MMC wins “A” division title 

February 21, 2006
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The victorious MMC team. nepalnews.com/bt
Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) has won the ANFA Martyrs San Miguel “A” Division Football League championship by defeating defending champions Nabil Three Star Club (NTSC) 1-0 in the final match of the league played at Dashrath Stadium today.

MMC, with 65 points, only needed to hold NTSC to a draw while NTSC, with 63 points, needed the win. With the win, MMC walk away with sixth league title.

In a tightly contested exhilarating match, both teams played to expectations, thrilling the 20,000 plus crowd.

MMC was the better team creating more opportunities both in the first and second half. Their effort finally paid off when Nigerian Nurudin Olawale scored a 35 yarder to seal the victory for MMC in injury time.

NTSC could have taken the lead in the 30th minute had the attempt Pradip Maharjan made not got deflected after hitting the crossbar. NTSC striker Surendra Tamang also muffed up a chance on a corner kick that he earned in the 68th minute.

“Finally, our hard effort paid off,” MMC coach Cheering Lopsang, who was also adjudged best coach of league said. “The boys really played sensationally and we are glad to make our dreams come true,” he concluded.

Care taker coach of NTSC Kumar Katuwal was distressed with the results saying, “We should have played an offensive game but our boys could not control the game and destroyed the game plan”.

The champions now will play in the second edition of AFC President’ s Cup to be held in Cambodia this year.

 

Most Valuable Player Upendra Man Singh in the Toyota car. nepalnews.com/bt
With the win, MMC bagged Rs 1,000,000, the highest prize money ever in Nepali football history. Adding more to the victory, MMC also became the second club to become the champions six times, after Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT), who also has six ‘A’ Division league titles. Before this, MMC had won the championship in 1986, 1987, 1989, 2000 and 2003.

The first runner-up Nabil Three Star Club pocketed Rs 700,000 and second runner-up Tribhuvan Army Club received Rs 500,000. The teams finishing fourth and fifth; Mahendra Police Club (MPC) and Gyanendra Armed Police Force Club (APF) got Rs 300,000 and Rs 200,000 respectively whereas New Road Team (NRT) and Sankata Club received Rs 50,000 each for standing sixth and seventh in the league table. Crown Prince Paras also handed over Rs 50,000 to Gyanendra APF team for being the Fair Play team.

Prizes galore for players

After the completion of the match, people patiently waited for the prizes to be given in various categories, bikes sponsored by Yamaha Motors and a car sponsored Vaidya’s Organisation of Industries and Trading Houses (VOITH).

Apart from the team and cash prizes, Upendra Man Singh, who is the former national team captain, received a Toyota car, sponsored by Vaidya’s Organisation worth Rs 23, 50,000 for being adjudged coming the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

 

The winners of the Yamaha G5 bikes. nepalnews.com/bt
Five others are:

Ritesh Thapa of MPC – Best Goalkeeper
Vishan Gauchan of Nabil TSC – Best Mid Fielder
Ramesh Budhathoki of MPC – Best Striker
Chhiring Lopsang Gurung of MMC – Best Coach
Sagar Thapa of MMC – Best Defender

They each received a Yamaha G5 as individual awards as declared by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) before the start of the league earlier this year.

Unfortunately, ANFA had to withdraw one of the categories, the highest scorer award citing some irregularities in the game. Rishi Rai spoilt the party scoring eight goals alone in the match against MFC.