Balochistan United win national championship

Victors down Wapda 7-0; receive Rs500k as prize money.

KARACHI:

Balochistan United (BU) lifted the 10th National Women’s Football Championship trophy in style as they thrashed Wapda 7-0 in Lahore on Friday.

Hajrah Khan scored a hat-trick in the first half. She struck the opening goal in the fourth minute of the match, doubled the lead in the 24th and scored her third goal in the 39th.

Shahlyla Baloch also contributed towards the team’s win in the 54th minute, while Joyana extended BU’s lead four minutes later; Nadia strengthened the team’s lead with a strike in the 60th minute.

Joyana sealed the win with her second goal in the second minute of extra time.

“My ultimate aim for BU is to give the players international exposure,” club founder and owner Rubina Irfan told The Express Tribune. “Winning the title is a good feeling, but more importantly, I want the female footballers to carve an international career for themselves.

“We’re featuring a foreign player Areesha Reza from the Maldives who I believe will be a good influence on the team.”

Rubina said that the secret to her side’s performance is the unity among the players.

“BU players are young, determined and selfless in the field. I believe that inducting Areesha also helped inspire the entire squad with her experience as a foreign player.”

Highest prize money in championship’s history

The Pakistan Football Federation gave away Rs500,000 to the winners, Rs300,000 to Wapda and Rs200,000 to third-place Army.

Hajrah, who emerged as the highest scorer with 30 goals in the championship, received Rs100,000 along with a trophy.

Army’s Malika Noor took the award for the best player; BU’s Mahpara secured the best goalkeeper prize and a fair-play trophy was given to Army, along with a prize money of Rs100,000 each.

According to a PFF official, the total prize money was the highest in the event’s history.

The federation also recognised Areesha as the first foreign female player to feature in the national championship and presented her with a trophy.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2014.

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