Khotang: The Nerpa Sports Club has won the title of the 3rd Anup Memorial Invitational Gold Cup tournament. Nerpa won the title by defeating hosts Diktel Football Club (DFC) 2-0 in the final match at Matikore Stadium in Diktel on Saturday.
This is the second time that Nerpa has won the tournament, as it had also won the second edition. Along with the title, Nerpa, won the gold cup, medal and certificate and Rs.251,000 in cash.
Likewise, DFC won the runner-up cup, medal and certificate along with a cash prize of Rs 111,000. All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) General Secretary Kiran Rai handed over the prizes and certificates to the winner and runner-up teams. Semi-finalists Chiabari Football Club Ilam and Manebhanjyang Sports Club Okhaldhunga each received Rs 25,000 in cash.
The tournament had kicked off on January 1 under the joint auspices of Mount Everest English Boarding School and Diktel Football Club and Khotang Football Academy (KFA). Seven different clubs of Khotang and clubs from Okhaldhunga, Sunsari and Ilam districts participated in the competition.
The tournament is held every year in memory of Anup Rai, a nursery student of Mount Everest School, who died in a road accident in Diktel. During the tournament, tributes were also paid to legendary Brazilian footballer Pele.