Sahara UK is a registered charitable & non-profitable organisation based in United Kingdom which is affiliated with Sahara Club Pokhara in Nepal, mainly providing financial and physical support to Sahara UK football club UK and Sahara club Pokhara Nepal. It also provides financial assistance towards the relief of natural disasters and supports all aspects of sports activities, culture and education in Nepal and in the UK. Sahara UK also maintains a close relationship with Sahara Hong Kong and Sahara Australia.
Sahara UK was officially established in 2008 under the chairmanship of Mr. Bikram Thakali (President of Sahara Club Pokhara) at Samuel cody college England, during his visit to the United Kingdom to develop and support potential talent within the Nepalese community in the UK as well as to stand alongside the British community through the medium of sports. Mr. Navin Gurung was elected to be president of Sahara UK.
Since its establishment, Sahara UK has been actively involved and committed to a series of activities, tournaments and achievements.
Sahara UK received the “Hampshire FA Equality Champion Awards 2018” from Hampshire Football Association at Southampton Football Club in honour of Sahara UK’s retrospective commitment, dedication and contribution towards Hampshire FA, as well as charitable works all over the world
- Sahara UK Participated in one of the most popular football tournaments in Pokhara, Nepal called the “Aaha Rara Gold Cup” which was organised by Sahara Club Pokhara. The main purpose of taking our team to Nepal was to build a strong relationship between the UK and Nepal.
- In 2013, total amount of £47,105.00 (NPR 66,76,608.61) contributed to Sahara Club Pokhara Nepal to build “Sahara Football Academy” for the underprivileged children in Dobilla Pokhara. All funds accumulated was from the contribution of members of Sahara UK across the country, many well-wishers and organisations from UK, which was coordinated by of Mr. Dilip Kumar Gurung MBE (Former president Sahara UK & Honorary Member of Sahara Club Pokhara) Since it was established, 28 underprivileged children have been living at the academy with ample food, decent education, medical facilities, as well as playing football with training and support from the football coach.
- We organise Charity dinner night and “The Everest Cup”, football tournament every year here in the UK to raise funds towards looking after Sahara Football Academy for underprivileged children in Pokhara, Nepal and assist financial support to our own Sahara football club youth team in the UK.
- Since 2013, we have been participating in the Aldershot and District Sunday Football League (A&DSFL) in Division 1. This marked a historical moment for our Nepalese community as it was hoped that a strong relationship and integration would form between the Nepalese and British communities through sports. Since then, our players have been continuously participating in the A&DSFL every Sunday in accordance with Hampshire Football Association’s league rules.
- In 2014, we contributed £3680 (5 lakh 70 Hazar Rupees) to Noulo Ghumti Nepal, it is a non-profitable and non-governmental organisation in Nepal. It is a rehabilitation and rehab centre.
- During the presidency of Lt. Retd Kusang Gurung, in 2022, £4,648 (NPR 752000) Contributed to Noulo Ghumti Rehabilitation centre Pokhara Nepal for their Sauna Bath project and opening ceremony was carried out by Mr. Kumar Gurung (Former President Sahara UK)
- Sahara UK integrated and worked with Aldershot Town Football Club to engage and galvanise the community. In 2015, Sahara UK purchased £10,000.00 (Ten thousand pounds) of share in the Aldershot Town Football Club to mark solidarity between Nepalese and British community.
- Since 2016 we have contributed £56,3300 (NPR 80 lakh 52 thousand) to Sahara club Pokhara benevolent fund by member & well-wishers of Sahara UK to support underprivileged children living at the Sahara Pokhara academy with ample food, decent education, medical facilities, as well as playing football with training by football coach.
- Shree Ganesh Primary School:
On 26th April 2015, a catastrophic earthquake destroyed Shree Ganesh Primary School in Ghairung 1, Jyamirswara, Koldanda, Gorkha, Nepal and it was rebuilt by Sahara UK and Sahara Club Pokhara during the time of Mr. Birbhadra Acharya and Mr. Dilip Kumar Gurung with a sum of Rs. 35,00,000.00 (Thirty-Five Lakhs Rupees) by extensive financial assistance and all aspects of support from Sahara UK in collaboration with Sahara Club Pokhara Nepal, Aldershot Town Football Club UK, Arun Chaudhary Foundation Nepal, Bourne End Rotary Club UK, Woking Asian Business Forum UK, Chelsea Football Club UK’ Shiraz Homes UK and Linden House UK. On 28th September 2016, this school was officially reopened by Mr. Arun Kumar Chaudhary (Patron of Sahara UK/Director of CG) Nepal. - Shree Haibung Mahadevsthan Secondary School.
On 27th September 2017, Mr. Bir Bhadra Acharya (President of Sahara Club Pokhara) and Mr. Dilip Kumar Gurung (President of Sahara UK) jointly engaged in laying a foundation stone and agreed to rebuild another earthquake destroyed school, Shree Haibung Mahadevsthan Secondary School, Haibung, Sindhupalchok, Nepal under the coordination of Advisor, Mr. Yogesh Gurung. The rebuilding of this school was mainly funded by Sahara UK in collaboration with Sahara Club Pokhara, Sahara Hong Kong, Sahara Australia and Arun Chaudhary Foundation Nepal with a total sum of £14,785 (RS. 20,00,000.00, Twenty Lakhs Nepali Rupees). On 21st January 2018, this school was officially reopened by Mr. Arun Kumar Chaudhary (Patron of Sahara UK/Director of CG Nepal) and Mr. Min Bahadur Gurung (President of Sahara UK) jointly & coordinated by Mr. Yogesh Gurung (Sahara UK life Member) - “HIV Discrimination” by Gopal Shrestha Ex National Football Player of Nepal, Climbed Mt Everest 2019 & member of Sahara UK Contributed £1000, equivalent of One Lakh and Forty-seven thousands of Nepalese Rupees.
- Lt. Retd Kusang Gurung (President) & Mr. Kumar Gurung (former president) took part on Great South Charity 10 miles Run in 2019, total of £3579 pound Raised.
- Portrait Photo of £1809 gifted to Mr. Arun Kumar Chaudhari, Patron of Sahara UK and Director of CG Nepal for his support to Sahara UK as a Special thank you on behalf of Sahara UK.
- Sahara UK Sponsored 2nd prizes for the Bagar Bhai Khalak Pokhara Nepal who organise one of the best and famous Veteran football Competition every year in Pokhara. Sahara UK have been contributing 2nd prizes as following year
Year 2019 – £400, (55 thousand Nepali rupees)
Year 2022 – £750 (1 Lakh Nepali rupees) - Ex Veteran players Association (Bhu Pu Kheladi Manch) organise Pokhara International Saphal Marathon, every year in Pokhara Nepal and we have been contributing as follows.
Year 2021 – fifty thousand Nepali Rupees
Year 2022 – £ 670 equivalent of One Lakh Nepalis Rupees
Year 2023 – fifty thousand Nepali Rupees - In 20th Aaha Rara Gold Cup, we Contributed £2000 for the support of 20th Aaha Rara Gold Cup 2022 due to pandemic, all game was held without spectators and we also support Sahara Club Pokhara every year worth of £800 for verity of trophy, medal & Cash prizes.
and every year with thank you post party after Aaha Rara Gold Cup for all volunteers, who help and support to run the tournament. - The Bronze Statue of first Nepalese Gurkha recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC) Kulbir Thapa `Magar carrying a wounded soldier from the Leicestershire regiment off the battlefield during 1st World War, in Princes Gardens in Aldershot has been unveiled honouring a towns long history and friendship with the Gurkhas. Greater Rushmoor Nepali Community commissioned the memorial on Sat 18 sept 2021. The Ceremony also included prayers of dedication. The Statue has been created by Hampshire-based sculptor Amy Goodman. Many individual, many Nepalese community and almost every Gurkha intake dipped into their pockets for this Gurkha memorial project and amongst them Sahara UK also contributed £1000 pounds for Gurkha VC statute. Note- almost 90 percent member of Sahara UK are from Gurkha Brigade of the British Army.
- Due to the constant monsoon rains in between June – oct 2022 flood in Pakistan, many people lost their life and caused trillions of damage and economic losses. Sahara UK contributed £1000 pound to Pakistani flood victim in oct 2022 through Chairmen of Aldershot Football Club Mr. Shahid Azeem.
- Through Sahara UK, Former National football players of Nepal, Mr. Nirajan Khadga volunteered to coach Arborfield Aces FC U12 for the 2020/21 season & U18 for the 2021/22 season.
- Thank you for your love, support & generosity we cannot do this without your help and support, if you want to be part of our journey, please contact us or visit
Url: www.saharauk.com
Email = saharauk11@gmail.com
Collection and Written by
Manoj Gurung.
