Brothers FC Defeats Mahindra Dal Gan in Tiebreaker to Win the First Ashok Smriti Cup
Banke — Brothers FC has won the title of the First Ashok Smriti Cup (U-20) Football Tournament. In the final held on Saturday at the playground in Khajura Rural Municipality-4 (E) village, Brothers FC defeated the Shri The Famous Mahindra Dal Gan Ex-Army Team 5-4 in a tiebreaker. The final, originally scheduled for Jestha 3, was completed later than planned due to a dispute that arose during the tournament. The decision was reached via a tiebreaker after the regulation time ended in a goalless draw.
In the tiebreaker, Abhiyan Thapa, Suraj Bista, Samir Thapa, Samir Rana, and Karan Baigar scored for Brothers FC. Ram Basnet, Indrajit Sunar, Ashish Gharti Magar, and Bidhan Bk scored for Mahindra Dal Gan. Brothers FC’s Karan Baigar was declared Player of the Final. In the tournament, Brothers FC’s Diwas Tamang was declared the Best Player, and Mahindra Dal Gan’s Prem Khatri was declared the Best Goalkeeper. The winner, Brothers FC, received a cash prize of NPR 51,000, while the runner-up, Mahindra Dal Gan Ex-Army, received NPR 31,000, along with trophies, medals, and certificates.
The tournament, organised by the Shri The Famous Mahindra Dal Gan Ex-Army Association, Banke, co-organised by Sundar Bihani Youth Club, and specially supported by Brothers FC, was principally sponsored by Alisha Jewellers. Tournament Coordinator Tilakbir Sunar informed that the first prize money for the tournament, which saw the participation of 12 teams, was sponsored by social worker Lil Bahadur Thapa, a resident of Khajura-4 currently residing in America. The victorious players were awarded by Khajura Rural Municipality Ward No. 4 Chairman Tek Bahadur Rokaya, Organising Committee Chairman Krishnalal Giri, Coordinator Sunar, and others. According to Sunar, the organisers expressed high respect and gratitude towards first prize donor Thapa, chief sponsor late Ashok Bk’s brother Hari Prakash Bik (Alisha Jewellers), and all other supporters.
After winning the title, Brothers FC Chairman Bibek Sagar Paudel expressed gratitude to the organisers for demonstrating high capability by completing the tournament peacefully despite various obstacles created during its conduct. He stated, “Sports is a subject connected to the activeness, health, and progress of youth. Any game, when played in a disciplined, dignified, and harmonious manner, conveys a positive message. Protecting the youth of society from vices and making them accountable towards family, society, and the nation is the need of the hour.”
Brothers Vice President Juna Pokharel expressed her sincere thanks to all who supported and assisted Brothers FC, saying that as this victory belongs to the youth of this region, they wish to share this happiness with everyone. Brothers FC Captain Bharat Gharti Magar said that this victory belongs to all the youth of Khajura. “Brothers FC is the representative club of all the youth of Khajura. It is not a medium to propagate any political ideology. It was formed to represent the nation’s youth and make them accountable and responsible towards their Nepali family, society, and the entire nation,” he said. Club member Mohit Thapa stated that since its inception, Brothers FC has been prioritising a social reform campaign alongside sports, while making the youth responsible towards their family, society, and the nation. The live broadcast of the final match was carried out by Brothers Club official Engineer Naresh Budhathoki.
