Tamu Dhee UK expecting up to 12,000 spectators on Gurkha Cup

London. Tamu Dhee UK is hoping to see up to 12,000 spectators on Gurkha Cup this year. The United Kingdom’s largest Nepali organisation by participation is celebrating 20th anniversary of the football tournament on June 4 at Queen’s Avenue playground of Aldershot.

Organising a special press conference at Tamu Dhee Hall at Mytchett, Surrey, Tamu Dhee UK Sports Secretary Captain Dev Ghale said that 32 teams in total, aged between 16 and 39, will be competing in the tournament this year.

And for the first time in its 20-years’ history, the tournament will also see ladies’ teams competing for a separate trophy where England’s professional celebrity female football player Miss Sushmita Ale will be one of the attractions.

Advertisement

The participating teams in the Gurkha Cup tournament often come from London, Catrick, Colchester, Oxford, Wales and York, but also from the Netherlands this year.

The winniner of ‘main team category’, consisting players aged between 16 and 32, will receive £2,500, whereas runners-up will receive £1,500, the organisers confirmed.

Similarly, the winner of the ‘veteran team category’, consisting age 32 and above, will receive £1,500, and runners-up will receive £800.

Trophies will also be given to the ‘best player’, ‘high scorer’ and ‘best manager’ in each category.

Apart from trophies and cash prize, all winners and runners-up will be decorated with medal and certificate.

“Our main objectives to organise Gurkha Cup each year is to engage youth in recreational activities and raising awareness about drugs, alcohol and cancers among the youth”, said Tamu Dhee UK Sport Secretary Capt. Dev Ghale.

By organising the tournament, Tamu Dhee UK also seeks to entertain people and create a place for people to meet each-other.

Apart from the football itself, other attractions of the event include parachute display and shot-put competition. However, musical performance of a celebrity singer from Nepal Alina Gurung would be the one no one will want to miss.

Similarly, the organisers confirmed that there will be 52 stalls in total for traditional Tamu costumes, foods, charity fundraising campaign, health camp and various Nepalese arts and crafts.

At the press conference, Tamu​ Dhee​ UK President Hit Kazi Gurung urged all relevant public to participate in the program and have fun.

It is estimates the cost for the entire event would up to £40,000. The organisers told the press conference that 60 security ​personals​, including a team from a police force, will be on the ground to provide security for all. Likewise, an ambulance and a medical team will be on stand-by for emergency treatment of injured players and other spectators.​ ​The prohibition of the sale, distribution and consumption of alcohol will be in place.

The press conference was attended by some of the senior-most Nepali journalists in the UK. Dhruba Raj Aryal, Nabin Pokharel and Narendra Basnet from Nepali Link; Khusi Limbu from Nepal Mamila; Dut Pun and Nagendra Nembang from Everest Times; Milan Tamu from Gurkha Media; Indra Ghotane from Khabar.Com and Shiba Bhandari from London NepalNews were among the attendees.​ The journalists were introduced by Tamu Dhee Uk’s media secretary Sabindra Kumar Gurung.​

The event was also observed ​by senior-most personalities of Tamu Dhee UK, such as ​Founder President Meen Pasad Gurung, ​Former Presidents Ramchand Surje Gurung, Jyam Gurung, Nanda Jung Gurung, Trustees, Advisors and Officials, Ama Samuha President Sita Gurung and others.

​NRNA England President LBZ Gurung, ​Singer Alina Gurung and martial arts player Bhupendra Gurung were also present on the occasion.

The press conference was ​chaired by Tamu Dhee UK President Hit Kazi Gurung and ​General Secretary Parashuram Gurung​ delivered a welcome speech​.