PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI: Clubs from various cities of Pakistan are excited to feature in the Rangers’ All-Pakistan Aman Football Tournament, which begins from March 9, but have voiced their disapproval of the event’s format.
The tournament, which will feature 32 departmental, club and regional teams, is based on a knockout format which entails that the team that loses gets knocked out of the tournament, and according to PAF coach Arshad Khan, this will become a nuisance for teams travelling from cities far away from the port city of Karachi, where the tournament is expected to take place.
“We want to play this tournament; we’ll play any good tournament in any city. But it is the format that is not too suitable for us,” Arshad, whose side reached the semi-final of the recently concluded Pakistan Football Federation Cup, told The Express Tribune. “The travelling is going to cost us a lot of money and effort and, in case we lose a match, we have to return the very next day.”
Arshad further added that holding a tournament in a league format, such as the one that was witnessed in the PFF Cup, would be a better option.
“KRL, PAF and Army would have to make a long trip to reach Karachi and I hope the organisers can work something out. The league format, such as the one in the PFF Cup, is much better suited for us,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2016.
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