FATA pull out of National Women’s Championship

Players raise security concerns, PFF respects decision to withdraw.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) National Women Championship, the biggest competition for women footballers of the country, saw a glitch this year as the regional team from Fata pulled out at the last hour on Tuesday.

Group D matches continued in Islamabad, but it remains a poignant fact that Fata will not be part of the championship even though women from regions like Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, along with six other clubs and provincial teams, are taking part.

PFF Secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi said the reason given for the withdrawal from Fata was a sensitive one.



“They told us that it was due to security concerns,” Lodhi told The Express Tribune. “The girls need to get permission from their parents and we understand that. We respect their concerns, which are valid in their situation.”

Fata pulled out of the qualification round of the championship that is featuring four teams in four groups. In their absence, only Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad and Higher Education Commission will compete in Group D.

“Despite Fata’s withdrawal, I feel the qualification round will be important. The weaker teams will be left behind, and the level of competition will be higher in the final round.”

‘It was their own decision’

Fata manager Hayat Zaman said the withdrawal from the event was an abrupt decision taken by the players.

“We were supposed to leave for Islamabad on October 27, but the players told us they couldn’t go,” said Zaman. “Some said their parents were not allowing them and others gave us different reasons, so we communicated accordingly to the federation.

“These players come from very small towns and far-fetched areas and we even held a camp for them, but at the end of the day it was their own decision.”

The Express Tribune made attempts to contact the Fata players and their coach Ayub Khan, but neither of them were available to comment.

On the other hand, the Sindh women’s team coach Hasan Baloch stated: “I don’t think their absence will affect the overall championship a lot, but their participation would’ve been valuable for the sport.”

WAPDA thrash LSE WFC 14-0

In yesterday’s Group B match, Wapda thrashed LSE WFC 14-0 as their striker Mehvish Fatima scored a double hat-trick. Similarly, Punjab crushed Vehari United WFC 7-0.

In the Group C matches, Army outclassed G-B 11-0, with Malaika Noor scoring five goals. Meanwhile, Young Rising Star WFC defeated Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa 6-0.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2013.

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