Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) signed sponsorship deal with Golchha Organization for the Player of the Year Awards on Tuesday.
NSJF president Nirajan Rajbanshi and Golchha Organization director Shekhar Golchha signed the agreement to make Bajaj Pulsar, the Indian motorbike, the main sponsor of the top sports awards of the country.
“The sponsorship is more for the development of sports than our business motive,” Golchha said during the signing ceremony. “At the present situation of the country, we believe sports could be the uniting factor for all Nepalis.”
The deal, worth Rs. 550,000 in cash and kinds, is valid for a year. Golchhan Organization will provide Rs. 400,000 cash along with nine Samsung digital cameras for awardees and will also support NJSF in promotional materials.
The event is set for September 10 at the Rastriya Nachghar.
“NSJF thanks Golchha Organization for being a part of most-awaited awards,” NSJF president Rajbanshi said adding that the award was incepted to provide players with the honor so to help them perform better.
Rajbanshi also added that NSJF is finalizing co-sponsorship deals with Surya Nepal and ISME for the awards.
“We are organizing the event on September 10, marking the anniversary of the forum,” Hemanta Kafle, the NSJF general secretary, said.
There will be seven categories for awards: player of the year male, female and youth, popular player of the year, coach of the year, special award and lifetime achievement award.
According to NSJF, the male, female and popular player of the year will receive a trophy and cash prize of Rs. 25,000 each while other winners will receive Rs 15,000 each.
“Popular player of the year will be selected through sms voting that will open next week,” Kafle added.
NSJF has constituted 11 committees for the successful organization of the event.
“We have expected the total budget of the program will be Rs. 1.1m,” Kafle said adding that the program has grown over the year. The event will be eighth award ceremony.
Also present on the occasion were NSJF first vice-president Rajendra Gyawali, vice-presidents Roshan Singh Raut and Dhruba Tuladhar and secretary Mahesh Acharya.
Last year, Deepak Bista and Nary Thapa won the top awards. Other winners were former CAN president Jaya Kumar Nath Shah, Sahara Club of Pokhara, cricketer Paras Khadka, footballer Jumanu Rai and football coach Birat Krishna Shrestha.
AIPS