Three Star champions

POKHARA, FEB 03 -

Three Star broke the hearts of 15 thousand home crowd to lift the title of Rara Aaha Golf Cup on Saturday.

League leaders Three Star, who had also won the trophy of the mofussil’s most popular football tournament back in 2008 and 2011, edged hosts Sahara 1-0 in the final to emerge champions for the third time.

The confident Sahara side who were playing the title decider for the first time did well to contain the Patan outfit with their stern defense until Femi Joshua’s header seven minutes from time denied the hosts a chance of creating history.

Joshua had headed a rebound ball from the near post after substitute Anil Gurung had headed Jeevan Sinkeman’s corner kick. Sahara goalkeeper Ajit Prajapati, who was later adjudged best goalkeeper,  stretched his fingers to push a ball little wide, and it went on  to hit the crossbar, but the ball ricocheted off the crossbar only to find Joshua.

Incidentally, Joshua was sent-off after he recieved his second yellow card in the dying minutes of the match.

Sahara, having defeated Tribhuvan Army, who are second in the A Division League, third placed Machhindra and Manang Marshyangdi Club (fifth) on their way to the final, were unable to repeat the match winning performance. In contrast to the previous games, the home team concentrated more on defense and failed to capitalise on the few chances that came their way.

Along with the winners’ trophy Three Star pocketed a cash prize of Rs 351,000 while Sahara received Rs 2,50,000. Sahara’s goalie Prajapati adjudged tournament’s best player and he recived a TVS motorcycle along with Rs 10,000 for his feat.

Three Star’s coach Pradeep Humagain said the winner’s trophy was the result of the hard work his boys had done.

“We were able to execute our plan into action,” jubilant Humagain said, “We had planed not to let Sahara’s foreign players settle down.” This is Humagain’s first trophy after taking over the team four months ago.