The teams for the 11th edition of the Falgunanda Gold Cup, which is returning after a six-year hiatus, have been confirmed.
With the teams finalized, the organizing body, Phidim Sporting Club, has announced a significant increase in the prize money. The details of the competition were shared during a press conference held in Phidim, the district headquarters, on Thursday.
Scheduled to take place from Poush 6 to 15 at the Phidim Mabi playground, the 11th Falgunanda Gold Cup is set to be the largest football event in Panchthar district. The prize money for this edition will surpass that of other local tournaments, with previous Gold Cup competitions in Panchthar typically offering prizes slightly over 500,000 rupees.
To make this year’s event more grand, the prize pool has been doubled. The winner will receive 1 million rupees, while the runner-up will take home 500,000 rupees. The winner of the 10th edition had received 400,000 rupees. Club President Dipendra Thapa Magar shared that preparations are nearly complete and that the club has already begun work on the venue and secured financial backing for the tournament.
This year’s competition will feature 10 teams, including four A Division clubs, one Nepal Super League team, and four regional clubs, alongside the host team. The participating clubs include New Road Team (NRT), Machhindra, Church Boys, and Tribhuvan Army Football, all from the A Division. Chitlang Football Club is participating for the first time, while Biratnagar City FC, which competes in the Nepal Super League, will also be part of the tournament.
In addition to the prize money, the organizers have made significant improvements to the individual awards. The Best Player of the tournament will receive an EV scooter, and the Man of the Match in each game will be awarded 10,000 rupees. The highest scorer will win 15,000 rupees, and the Best Defender, Coach, Forward, Midfielder, Goalkeeper, and Emerging Player will each receive 10,000 rupees.
Along with Phidim Sporting Club, other teams in the competition include Siraha's Salhesh Football Club, Newstar Club from Sunsari, and Jhapa Football Club. The estimated cost of organizing the tournament is approximately 9 million rupees. The 10th edition of the Falgunanda Gold Cup was won by Jhapa 11.
The Falgunanda Gold Cup, named after the 16th national hero Falgunanda, was first held in 2065 BS. However, the competition lost momentum after the 10th edition in 2075 BS. The Phidim Sporting Club is now set to revive the tournament after a six-year break, which was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
