NEPALESE COMMUNITY GURKHA CUP 2013 HELD IN ALDERSHOT by Benson Agoha

* THE MAIN CUP.

The 2013 edition of the Gurkha Cup, organised annually by the Tamu Dhee UK, events organisers for the Nepalese Community in the UK, was held in Aldershot on Sunday, 26th May, 2013. It was attended by well over 20.000 people. Families and friends,the old and the young, civilian and military and even para-military, and of course, the police.

Aldershot is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council whose Mayor for 2013/2014 is Councillor Terry Bridgeman (pictured below).

Aldershot is an Army Town and it does not take long for a newcomer to confirm it. According to a wiki profile, `Aldershot is known for its connection with the British Army. This led to rapid growth from a small village to a Victorian town. Today, Aldershot is known as the "Home of the British Army"'. Even the Military Preparation College was represented here. They prepare the youth for the challenges of joining the army. In a sense, the MPC accesses your ability to cope with military training if you are thinking of joining.

For me, it was a pleasure to visit Aldershot again. This Town, in the English county of Hampshire, also called the "Little Nepal", is home to a 2011 population estimate of 33,840. It is located on the southwest of London, serviced by the Southwest Trains from Waterloo Station. According to statistics, one in 10 of it's 90.000 residents hails from Nepal and Nepalese speakers make up about 6.2% of Rushmoor population.

Aldershot is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council whose Mayor for 2013/2014 is Councillor Terry Bridgeman (pictured below).

* Mayor of Rushmoor, Councillor Terry Bridgeman.

* Welcome to the Gurkha Cup 2013.

* All prices to be won/

* VIP arriving.

* The Bagpiper was on hand to entertain VIP's on arrival.

* A Gurkha is always prepared, the Bagpipers weapon is right behind him.

* Bagpiper's Flag.

* Mayor of Rushmoor.

Miss P. Edwards.

Suprtd. David Powell and Son.

* Mohan Gurung and wife Banu - both of of Nepali TV, Plumstead.

* Banu Gurung and friends



* Mohan Gurung is a member of the Organising Committee for Tamu Dhee UK, organisers of the event.

* THE NEPALI TV Stand with the Boss, Mohan Gurung standing in front.

* Marketing attendants.

* Mohan Gurung with members of the Nepali TV Plumstead, Team.

* Member of the Nepali TV crew, Bardan Gurung.



* Alan Lekhnath Pandey: Director of Asmita & Associates, Plumstead.

* APL, Aldershot, is a sister company of Asmita & Associates.

Arrival of Other VIP's.



* Mayor about to be presented cup by the Para team.

* Side Attraction. I could not resist this dog.

* Pana (not real name) and her dog.

* The dog even let me hold it for a shot.

* The Military Preparation College Stand.

* Bone of Contention.

* The Prices.

* The Golden boots.

* I hope you got one!

The event featured, Football, Songs by the Military Wives Choirs, Entertainment from a Bagpiper, Kiddies Dance, Paratrooper jumps and Rewards for participants and winners of the main and veteren footballing events.

* RMA Stand is for the Football Team of the Royal Military Academy, Aldershot. They were one of those competing.

* Two teams slog it out.

* Good footballing skills were on display and even the over 40s were so proficient you would have thought they played for a league side.

* It's coming..ready?

* It's a GoooooooooL!

* Very cordial, both on and off the pitch.

* The Referees took the matches seriously.

* More entertaining football.

* Entertaining football.

* Referee enters his result.

* Open and transparent.

* The Nepali TV team were resilient, winning all their games till the finals, but then became shy of bringing the cup home.

* Referee consults with his lines man and the officials.

The Footballing events, featured two groups - the Youth Teams known as the main event, which had 41 teams competing and the Veterens events for the over 40s, which has 10 teams. There was a team that even flew in from Belgium. It is open to interested teams - not necessarily clubs and as a result, some teams looked better dressed than others, having been better branded.

* The Military Wives Choirs were on hand to belt out some tunes.

* Time to listen to some live tunes from the MWC.

* Military wives Choir.

* Military Wives Choir performed.

The organisation of the events itself was superb and security, profound. The metropolitan police for noticeably present and even used the opportunity to erect their own canopy to educate the public on the dangers of carrying dangerous weapons on the streets.

Their canopy, branded `FaKe', (acronym for Firearms And Knife Education), was used to highlight the dangers of carrying harmful weapons - and what happens to those caught carrying such weapons on the streets.

* Members of the press interviewing a police officer.

* Foods came in various forms. About 80 stalls present.

* More food.

* The men behind the stoves say it's no magic - it was all being cooked right here.

* Result of hardwork.

* Serving with a smile.

* Dishing it.

* Proud of Nepal. The youth wearing "I Love Nepal T-Shirts". And why not?

The day was beautiful, and the weather was good, warm, sunny and dry. It was the type of day and venue that would have pulled people out of their homes anyway, and perfect as well, for fun-seeking individuals.

* So as guys were scheduled to slog it out on the pitch, the girls came out in droves to watch and cheer their favourite teams. They came in all shapes, sizes and attires - and so did the wedding planner, as you will see below.


* The Wedding Planner.
* Did you meet someone? Well, even the wedding planner was very much present - with a very beautiul stand.

And just when spectators thought that all the attractions for the day have been presented, something comes dropping from the sky. People look up and go, `what's that?'. It descends like a vertical flame, gradually, till it drops on the field. And there, there's a man, with a handheld microphone. He makes an announcement, the guys up there in the sky, will be following the flames and will be dropping right there in the centre of the field any moment from now. You look up, and go yeah..there he is.

The performance, by a team of paratroopers is one of the star performances of the day, and they all landed expertly, safely at the centre of the field. And matched to the Mayor and presented him with the Cups. Below, I present you the clips and hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

* The Orange Smoke stick lands on the field first, and becomes the guide to the paratroopers as they descend from the sky.

The team present the Cups to the Mayor.

* And were decorated with Tamu Dhee UK Scarf.
* Mission accomplished. Off they go.
It is said that, for everyone, there is a first time for everything and that was, without doubt the closest I have ever come to observing paratroopers, and it was good.

Below are some more photos of the day. Enjoy!

* VIPs.
* A Bhudist Monk.


As action resumed, the over 40's teams were ready to fight for the cup, so the two teams for the final game get ready.

* Panel of Judges for the final games.

* Two finalists of the Veteren's group file out for the final game.

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Well, we hope you have enjoyed these photos and short stories accompanying them.

If you have an event and you desire to have it covered, please contact me through: Email: bensonagoha@yahoo.com Twitter: @matrixben Twitter: @woolwichonline Phone: +44(0)755 352 8337.