The final match of the first edition of the President's Cup football, organized by the Nepali Congress Democratic Sports Association General Convention Steering Committee, is set to take place today in the capital. The match will kick off at 5:30 pm at the Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwor.
The contest will see A Division Club Sankata face off against the organizer's team, the Democratic Sports Association Bagmati Province. Both teams have displayed remarkable skill and determination throughout the competition, which started on Magh 10, and will now battle for the prestigious title in the inaugural edition of this event.
Eight teams participated in the knockout tournament, and the stakes are high. The winner will receive a cash prize of 2.6 million rupees, while the runner-up will pocket 1.3 million rupees. This prize money makes the President's Cup the highest-paying knockout football competition in Nepal.
At a press conference on Wednesday, the coaches and captains of both teams expressed their confidence in the final, promising a fiercely competitive match. Both sides are determined to secure victory and claim the historic first title of the tournament. The event also saw the unveiling of the trophy at Shaheed Gate on Martyrs' Day, adding to the significance of the occasion.
In the semi-finals, Sankata edged out Machhindra Football Club 8-7 in a nail-biting sudden death shootout, while Bagmati triumphed over NRT 4-2 in their own tiebreaker thriller.
In addition to the grand prize, the competition will also recognize outstanding individual performances. The Player of the Match from each game will receive 15,000 rupees, while the Best Player will be awarded 75,000 rupees. The Best Goalkeeper will take home 50,000 rupees, the Highest Goal Scorer will also earn 50,000 rupees, and the Emerging Player will receive 25,000 rupees. These awards were announced by Mohan Bahadur Basnet, Coordinator of the General Convention Steering Committee.
The grand final will be graced by Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, who will present the awards to the winners and runners-up.
