Football league resumes in tricky conditions

Pitch, weather to cause hindrance in staging matches.

KARACHI: The second-leg of the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) will start today with KPT taking on Baloch FC and PIA facing Muslim FC in Karachi.

However, the issue facing the organisers will be the pitch and ground conditions after heavy downpour over the last week and the refusal of teams to visit the city, according to match commissioner Ali Nawaz.

“We’ve been inspecting the pitches,” Nawaz told The Express Tribune. “We’re hoping that they will be ready in time for the games. The matches will be played at KPT Stadium and Peoples’ Stadium. While the KPT venue can host its match, the other stadium remains doubtful.”

While Nawaz said that the venues are not a concern since an alternative can be found, it was the refusal of teams from Balochistan and Chaman to visit Karachi that was the major concern.

“It’s always tricky when it comes to convincing teams to play during monsoon,” said Nawaz. “It’s not difficult to play during rain but the teams usually don’t agree. People play football in the rain around the world but it just doesn’t happen in Pakistan.”

Nawaz said that in case of a refusal to play their matches, teams will be given a walkover against Balochistan and Chaman. However, the official added that he is expecting Afghan FC and Pel to arrive in time for their matches tomorrow.

PIA defeated HBL 3-2 in the last match of the first-leg of the league on July 29. However, it is the KRL side that is leading the 16-team tournament with 28 points from 10 matches followed by PIA (18) and NBP (15). The top team will qualify for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President’s Cup that will be held next year.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th,  2011.