KESC win Challenge Cup opener

Coach Baloch banking on strikers to overpower KRL.

KARACHI: KESC opened their campaign at the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Challenge Cup 2013 with a 1-0 win against Pakistan Police at the Dring Stadium in Bahawalpur, while Wapda thrashed Sui Southern Gas Corporation (SSGC) 3-0.

Despite the absence of two senior players, including captain Essa Khan and striker Mohammad Rasool, Abdus Salam helped the team’s cause with a 21st-minute goal.

However, KESC coach Hassan Baloch said Rasool was missed but he was hopeful the player would recover in a few days and play the remaining matches.

“I’m happy with the opening match, but my goal is to take the team to the final this year as well,” Baloch told The Express Tribune. “Essa is injured and he will take time to recover, but I’m hopeful that Rasool can join us in a couple of days.”

Talking about his team’s chances, Baloch said defending champions KRL will be a threat. “I believe our main competition will be KRL. The players they have benched are better than mine. But I will be relying on strikers like Auranzeb Senior, Salam and Abdul Rehman to shine during the tournament.”

In the other match of the day, Wapda’s new addition, Jadeed Khan scored twice to ensure a winning start for the team.

Jadeed scored the first goal against SSGC in the fifth minute before Muhammad Afzal doubled the lead in the 58th. Jadeed completed his brace in the 68th minute to put the game out of SSGC’s reach.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2013.