BY LB THAPA
Taking Soccer to a New Height
Aaha Gold Cup football tournament is the only grand soccer tournament that takes place out of the Kathmandu valley. And its reputation is continuously growing up ever since the first Caravan Gold Cup was held in 2001. After 2003 its name was changed to Aaha Gold Cup. Now the tournament has attained an international status where renowned clubs from countries as far as India, Bangladesh and the UK take part in the completion. Sports tourism has enormous scope and possibilities in Pokhara. Pokhara’s weather and sports loving people are supportive to make any sporting event a grand accomplishment. A huge success of Aaha Gold Cup is the testimony to this fact.
The local hotels and restaurants' entrepreneurs look upbeat as their business got a boost. Many football lovers from all over the country rushed to Pokhara to watch the football tournament. Hotel occupancy all of a sudden soared up at Prithvi chowk, Mahendrapool and Lakeside.
The government must work seriously to lay a strong foundation of sport tourism in Pokhara. Pokhara has all that can made the valley a popular hotspot for sporting activities such as foot ball, cricket, Golf, and several other popular sporting events. I think local authority must take this issue with due respect.
Pokhara has already carved a niche for trekking and adventure tourism. Now sports tourism about be added to its repertoire. These days more people take interest in watching popular sports like soccer and cricket. Since Nepal’s performance is also commendable in these games, it can pull enormous crowd to the stadium. Only if cricket and soccer tournaments are held regularly, Pokhara tourism can get a new lease of life. Soccer and cricket are the most popular games today. More people watch these sports with utmost delight. To reap the benefit, our government must invest required amount of money, or it can invite private sector for the purpose. The private sector would not mind investing a large amount of money to develop a strong base to promote sports tourism in Pokhara.
National Sporting Council (NSC), the governing body of sports in the country itself highly infected with politics. The NSC could never keep its image clean form sleazy politics. Though it is country’s apex sporting body, it plays more politics than sports. Politics begins whenever a new project is brought to its being. To oppose such things, on several occasions, voices were raised but noting budged such tainted politicians who always used their weight for the vested interest.
Sahara Club Pokhara must be applauded for its unflinching efforts to keep Aaha God Cup going on with so much success. Depending on local resources, Sahara Club has been thriving with the passage of time. The club had passed through a hard time, but it didn’t deter from its goal. Ever since the establishment of Sahara Club in 1998, it has been doing its job responsibly.
Sahara Club Pokhara has also been successfully running Sahara Academy, where young prodigies get free coaching from experts. The club has also bought land to develop football ground in near future.
The club must be supported by Pokhareli business community, tourism entrepreneurs, and the local government. Due to its selfless service, the club has become synonymous with football, and an icon in Pokhara. Its protection and promotion is the responsibility of the government and all sport loving people of the country. Without doubt, Sahara is emerging to become one of leading clubs of the country. Source: People's Review Weekly, Kathmandu
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