The fourth edition of the Kohalpur Gold Cup football tournament has commenced in Kohalpur, Banke. In the opening match, the host Racing Sahara Club defeated Panchkoshi Youth Club by a 2–1 margin, marking a victorious start to the competition. The winner of the tournament will receive NPR 800,000, while the runner-up will be awarded NPR 400,000 in cash prizes.
In the 24th minute, Racing Sahara’s defender Pepe scored the opening goal, giving his team the lead. Later, in the 44th minute of the first half, Faguram Chaudhary added another goal, doubling the lead. Racing Sahara maintained clear dominance throughout the first half with a 2–0 advantage. Although Panchkoshi Youth Club created several good scoring opportunities during the match, they were unable to convert any into goals.
In the second half, the visiting team improved their performance and increased their attacking efforts. Their foreign player, Kushagra Upreti, scored a consolation goal in the 88th minute, but it was insufficient to avoid defeat. Pepe from Racing Sahara was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his excellent performance and received NPR 5,000 along with the trophy.
The tournament will continue until 26th Baishakh, with the champion and runner-up earning cash prizes of NPR 800,000 and NPR 400,000 respectively. Organizers also announced attractive awards for outstanding players in various categories. To promote tourism through the tournament, the two teams reaching the final will be taken on a jungle safari in Banke National Park. Additionally, there are plans to provide experiences of local homestays featuring authentic food and accommodations. The tournament, held at the playground located in Ward No. 2 of Kohalpur Municipality, was inaugurated by Mayor Purna Prasad Acharya. On the second day of the tournament, Sunday, Just John FC (Nigeria) will face Royal Football Club (Karnali) in a match scheduled to start at 4 PM, according to tournament coordinator Karn Bahadur Basnet.
