Aaha Rara Pokhara Gold Cup () is an annual international football tournament held in Pokhara, Nepal, and organized by the Sahara Club. It was formerly known as the Caravan Gold Cup. It is considered a major football tournament in Nepal, and is therefore endorsed by ANFA Kaski, a district FA of the All Nepal Football Association.
Background Sahara Club (Pokhara) have been running a football academy for under-privileged children from the profit of the tournament and donations from various individuals and organisations. At present, there are 30 children at the academy.
The major attraction of the cup is the involvement of major clubs of Nepal and some international clubs. The cup is recognized by ANFA and is included in its annual calendar. The tournament is conducted in a knockout format and 12 teams compete for the title. The tournament is the main event keeping the spirit of football alive in Nepal and handsomely rewards the clubs and players. It is also the longest sporting event to be held regularly. For the first time in history in 2019 there were only 10 club competing due to tight schedule of tournament all over Nepal and Date issue.
On the 13th edition of the tournament, English non-league side Aldershot Town FC entered in the tournament, and thus became the first European (UEFA) club to compete in the tournament's history.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 19th edition of the tournament only featured 8 teams. The 20th edition was held with 1/3 of the spectators allowed by following Covid safety protocols.
Previous winners Title Year B.S. Year A.D. Winners Runners-up Caravan Gold Cup 2058 2002 Nepal Police Club Manang Marsyangdi Club 1. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2059 2003 Nepal Police Club Friends Club 2. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2060 2004 Manang Marsyangdi Club Carlton Football Club 3. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2061 2005 Manang Marsyangdi Club Nepal Police Club 4. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2062 2006 African United Club Nepal Police Club 5. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2063 2007 Three Star Club Manang Marsyangdi Club 6. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2064 2008 Nepal Police Club Nepal A.P.F. Club 7. Aaha! Gold Cup 2065 2009 Nepal Police Club Nepal Army Club 8. Aaha! Rara Rara Gold Cup 2066 2010 Nepal Police Club Tribhuvan Army Club 9. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2067 2011 Three Star Club Manang Marsyangdi Club 10. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2068 2012 Manang Marsyangdi Club Jawalakhel YC 11. Aaha! Rara Gold 2069 2013 Three Star Club Sahara Club (Pokhara) 12. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2070 2014 Sahara Club (Pokhara) Manang Marshyangdi Club 13. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2071 2015 Three Star Club Manang Marshyangdi Club 14. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2072 2016 Manang Marshyangdi Club Nepal Army Club 15. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2073 2017 Manang Marshyangdi Club Sahara Club (Pokhara) 16. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2074 2018 Nepal Police Club Three Star Club 17. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2075 2019 Three Star Club Nepal Army Club 18. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2076 2020 Manang Marshyangdi Club Nepal Police Club 19. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup 2077 2021 Sankata Club African Roots Association 20. Aaha Rara Gold Cup 2078 2022 Nepal A.P.F. Club Manang Marshyangdi Club 21. Aaha Rara Gold Cup 2079 2023 Sankata Club Bhutanese Youth Club 22. Aaha Rara Gold Cup 2080 2024 Nepal Army Three Star Club 23. Aaha Rara Gold Cup 2081 2025 Black Bulls FC Nepal Police F.C. 24. Aaha Rara Gold Cup 2082 2026 Sahara Club (Pokhara) Jawalakhel YC
Top performing clubs Club Winners Runners-up Nepal Police Club 6 2 Manang Marshyangdi Club 6 6 Three Star Club 5 2 Nepal Army Club (formerly Tribhuwan Army) 2 4 Sahara Club (Pokhara) 2 2 Sankata Club 2 0 Nepal A.P.F. Club 1 1 African United Club 1 0 Carlton Football Club 0 1 Friends Club 0 1 Jawalakhel Youth Club 0 2 African Roots Association 0 1
See also Birat Gold Cup Simara Gold Cup KP Oli Cup Pokhara Cup Budha Subba Gold Cup Jhapa Gold Cup Tribhuvan Challenge Shield ANFA Cup
External links Aaha Rara Gold Cup official anthem BBC South report RSSSF.com - Nepal - List of Champions and Cup Winners Sahara Club official website
References