POKHARA, March 14: As the Nepali football’s two heavyweights go head to head for the 18th Aaha Rara Gold Cup title on Saturday, both the teams will have different aspirations in the final.
With the 2018-19 Martyr’s Memorial A-Division League winner Manang Marshyangdi Club aiming for the joint-record sixth Aaha Rara title, the departmental team Nepal Police Club will want to win another to add to its seventh title.
Police currently is the record Aaha Rara winning team with six trophies so far. The team, which finished in the fifth place in this season’s league, has won five Aaha Rara titles including one Caravan Gold Cup. Having reached the final nine times in the tournament’s history, Police has won the first, sixth, seventh, eighth and 16th editions of the tournament.
Likewise, Manang has won the titles five times as it won the tournament in the second, third, 10th, 14th and 15th edition. It has participated 15 times in the tournament along with the Caravan, and it will now play in its 10th final.
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Manang and Police have played each other seven times in the tournament, and they will be facing for the fourth time in the final. In the earlier three final meetings, Manang won the title two times and Police won once.
Police saw off Manang in the Caravan final 2-0 to win the trophy, while Manang beat Police 3-1 in the second edition of the Aaha Rara, and 3-2 in the third edition. Also, in the other rounds, Police defeated Manang 1-0 in the eighth edition, while Manang returned the favor to Police, beating the departmental team 1-0 in the 10th edition.
Similarly, Manang thrashed Police 5-0 in the 12th, while Police got past Manang 3-1 in the 16th edition.
Manang has been victorious in the last two meetings between the sides. Manang saw off Police 2-0 in the A-Division League and finished above Police in third, while it also defeated the team 3-1 in the Budha Subba Gold Cup this season.
The final meeting can be seen as a chance for Police to take revenge of the recent losses and go two titles clear of Manang in the Aaha Rara history.
Both the teams said that they have prepared well to win the tournament which rewards the winner with Rs 1 million.
Manang reached the final beating Jhapa XI 1-0 in its first game of the tournament, while it saw off the other departmental team Tribhuvan Army Club 3-2 to reach the final. Likewise, Police saw off the host Sahara Club 4-2 in penalties, while it thrashed Three Star Club 3-0 in the last four.
Both the teams claim that they will win the title. The teams added that even though the final will be a competitive one, the teams will give their all to win the title.
Police head coach Ananta Thapa said that even though Manang is a good side, his team will beat Manang to win the title. “Manang’s specialty is compact defensive game, and they will play counter attacking football to score goals. We have made make necessary plans to counter their tactics,” Thapa said. “The team contains young players and they are full of energy. They are excited to win the title and the team spirit is good.”
Police captain Bharat Shah said that his team will win the title with good football as the teamwork is strong and they have been getting recent success. “We have always been lucky in Pokhara. W
e are a hardworking team and if luck favors us, we will win. I want to score a goal and win for the team.”
Manang head coach Fuja Tope said that, he is confident of winning the title after reformatting the team after a long time. “We have given chances to our young players. We won’t be far off from the title if we play according to the plan.”
