Machhindra Football Club has won the 15th International Invitational Control Itahari Gold Cup Football Tournament. In the final match on Saturday, Machhindra defeated Sagarmatha Youth Club, Morang, by 2-0 to claim the title in their first participation.
This is Machhindra’s first trophy of the season. Earlier, they had finished as runners-up in the Falgunanda Gold Cup in Panchthar after losing to Church Boys. With this victory, Machhindra won a cash prize of NPR 1 million along with the championship trophy, while Sagarmatha, the runner-up, received NPR 500,000.
Foreign players Malik Yusuf and Omolaja Nurain Kareem scored for Machhindra. Yusef netted the first goal in the 4th minute, giving his team an early lead. Kareem sealed the victory with a second goal in the 85th minute. Despite strong support from the crowd, two-time champion Sagarmatha could not perform as expected.
Individual Awards:
- Man of the Match: Sagarmatha’s captain, Ashok Khawas (NPR 10,000 prize)
- Best Player of the Tournament: Sagarmatha’s Kuldeep Karki (NPR 100,000 and a trophy)
- Best Goalkeeper: Machhindra’s Bishal Shrestha
- Best Defender: Sanish Shrestha (Machhindra)
- Best Midfielder: Bishal Ghalan (Machhindra)
- Best Forward: Malik Yusuf (Machhindra)
- Best Coach: Santosh Neupane (Machhindra)
(All individual award winners received NPR 20,000 each.)
With four goals in the tournament, Machhindra’s Malik Yusuf also won the Top Scorer award, earning an additional NPR 25,000.
The Emerging Player award went to Sabin Ghimire of the host club, Rastriya Jagriti Club. He received a 32-inch LED TV as his prize.
The winners were awarded by Koshi Province Tourism Minister Sadananda Mandal and Koshi Province Football Association President Kishor Rai.
