KRL retain PPFL title

Champions conclude season with goalless draw against KESC.

KARACHI:

KESC held champions KRL in a goalless draw to conclude the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) as runners-up, while pushing Wapda to the third spot on Saturday.

The marathon league featured 16 teams this time and had a draw of 240 matches.

While KRL set the record of winning the title for a third successive time to bring their fourth trophy home, their coach Tariq Lutfi said the season had been rather competitive for his side especially after playing the Asian Football Confederation President’s Cup 2013 final in September.

However, he was delighted that his team successfully defended their title.

KRL concluded the season with 69 points to their credit after winning 22 matches, drawing six and losing three.

“Every team wanted to defeat us and there was pressure,” Lutfi told The Express Tribune. “Our captain Samar Ishaq didn’t play due to an injury, but it all came together in the end and I’m relieved.”

The side received prize-money of Rs700,000 as their key striker Kaleemullah took away the best player award and bagged Rs150,000.

However, he lost his highest-scorer award to KPT’s Muhammad bin Yousuf, who scored 27 goals and took home Rs100,000 as a reward. Wapda’s Muzammil Hussain was declared best goalkeeper.

KESC conclude campaign as runners-up again

KESC coach Hasan Baloch said that taking away the runners-up trophy was just a recap of last year.

“We won the silver medal last time too,” said Baloch. “My team missed too many scoring opportunities. We needed a point to get ahead of Wapda, and we did just that.”

KESC, who ended the season with 64 points, bagged Rs500,000 for their performance, while Wapda finished third with 63 points.

Baloch further stated that Nigerian striker Oludeyi ‘Sunday’ Abayomi, had been a good addition in the team.

“I‘d want him to come back. I’ll suggest my management to re-hire him for another season because he brought a positive change in our side.”

Draw-back in 2013-14 season

While the league got tougher with 16 teams competing, ZTBL discontinued playing due to financial-constraints.

Besides ZTBL, HBL, Navy, Pak-Afghan Clearing Agency, Lyallpur FC, Baloch FC Noushki were relegated.

Next season will have PPFL’s top 10 teams and Pakistan Railways along with Baloch FC Quetta in the league.

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi, national coach Mohamed Shamlan were present in the closing ceremony. In total, the PFF gave away Rs2.3 million as cash prizes.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2014.

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