PFF Cup: PAF confident of reaching final

Coach feels his side are favourites against KRL in the semi-final

KARACHI: Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) 2016 bronze medallists PAF coach Arshad Khan believes his team can overcome four-time national champions KRL if they play at their best when the sides face off in the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Cup semi-final at Punjab Stadium in Lahore today.

Arshad felt his team are favourites to win the match since they finished third in the last PPFL season. PAF also boast an impressive recent record against KRL and have not lost against them in two years.



“It is going to be a thrilling match for both teams,” Arshad told The Express Tribune. “I’m confident that my players will trouble KRL. Overall, this tournament has been a good one. Winning this title means a lot as this is the first official tournament of the year.”

Arshad said that KRL were impressive in their 3-1 quarter-final win over Wapda and will therefore be coming into the game on a high.

“KRL have got Muhammad Adil back in the squad and he is one player to watch out for,” said Arshad. “They played very well against Wapda, but I feel our team is better than Wapda. We won’t make the mistakes they did.”



Arshad also praised the PFF, feeling that it has saved several jobs considering the recent inactivity. “It was essential to have a national tournament,” he said. “I’m glad the administrator [Asad Munir] organised this event. I got to hire four more players. Otherwise we feared that our department would let go of some older ones, but now it’s all good. We are expecting another tournament in April.”

Meanwhile, Army and NBP vie it out in the other semi-final in a bid to book a place in the final on February 22.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th,  2016.

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