Karachi United FC were the first Pakistan football club to have played in the Standard Chartered Trophy. Photo: EVENT ORGANISERS
Karachi United FC’s debut in the Standard Chartered Trophy saw the Pakistan club defeating teams from Bangladesh and Indonesia at Anfield, Liverpool.
However, they lost the other four matches in Group B of the tournament on Tuesday. The eventual winners of the five-a-side tournament were Vietnam, who outplayed Singapore 1-0 in the final.
The Karachi United FC squad comprised of captain Humza Khan, Taha Alizai, Imran Ali, Adeel Mirza Rizki, Shahrukh Chaudhry, Khowaja Obaid, Imran Ilyas and Furqan Ali.
This season, qualifying tournaments took place across 14 countries globally with over 1,200 teams taking part. The winning teams from each country won a prize, which included a trip to the UK, a chance to watch Liverpool FC (LFC) play their last game of the 2013-14 season and a professional training session with LFC legends and academy coaches.
Pakistan, who were slotted in Group B, began their campaign with confidence against Bangladesh, in which Hamza and Alizai scored to give their team a 2-0 win. Despite a good start, the team saw a rough time against Malaysia, going down 6-0. According to Hamza, this was the turning point for the squad, where two players were injured.
He added that the competition level was high in the group including Malaysia, Vietnam, Europe, Indonesia and Hong Kong giving them a hard time.
Although Pakistan lost their remaining matches against Vietnam 4-1, Europe 5-1 and Hong Kong 1-0, they managed to sign off with a consolation win against Indonesia 2-0.
“We could’ve done better,” Hamza told The Express Tribune. “Football is a game of confidence and we did feel some pressure after our match against Malaysia.”
‘Keep supporting the Reds’
Before the tournament, the players in the tournament met LFC legends Robbie Fowler and John Barnes
on Monday, who were also present at the event on Tuesday.
Giving a message out to the Pakistan fans, Fowler said that the supporters should keep their faith in Liverpool.
“Football is a popular sport with fans everywhere in the world,” said Fowler in an exclusive interview. “I just want to tell the Liverpool fans that they should keep supporting their team. We had a good season.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2014.
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So glad to hear a good news about Pakistan especially when its Karachi.. Karachi United.. bravo Well done guys.. its a road always less traveled.
Instead of being negative, how about looking at the positive? Out of 1200 teams, Karachi United FC were one of the few who made it and were the first Pakistani team in doing so? That's an outstanding achievement. Their record was 2-4 which wasn't too shabby for a first timer. It's not how many times you fall, but the way you get up that defines you. I think KUFC laid the groundwork and its upto the rest to build on that, not criticize any perceived shortcomings. Great job in the tournament guys and way to promote Pakistan football on the world stage!!
Sarmad Afridi: Since you are making strong statements, I assume you are an extremely successful professional athlete or someone who has done amazing things like qualify from 1200 teams to be among the last 12 of a worldwide tournament? Give credit where credit is due, believe people when they say things unless you have evidence to the contrary, appreciate people from our country when they accomplish something. Very easy to sit at a keyboard and type vitriol! Get on the playing field and see how hard it is to compete at that level... then maybe you will appreciate what this team achieved at Anfield. For most "normal" people, hearing that one of our country's teams made it to the final round of a tournament from over 1200 teams would be something to be proud of ... and we are ... except for you of course and you are certainly welcome to your opinion!
Can we for once appreciate the effort that these guys put in to get where they are? Playing at a professional arena has its own pressures and no one field is mastered and won in the first go....apart from in the movies perhaps....Lets set aside the negativity. These guys got where they are through their perseverance and hard work....Better luck next time Guys!
@Sarmad Afridi: its not easy! give them some credit! first time a Pakistani football club went to Anfield to play! they won 2 matches and i consider that a big achievement! Hong kong, Vietnam. Malaysia and Europe are very good,experienced and consistently well performing teams. Even though you lost but you made us proud! Well done guys! hope you do much better next time! all the best for the future! :)
Come on guys.........you're not as young as you'll once used to be. Well done anyway.
What am embarrassment for Pakistan. How can a team lose by big margins of 3, 4 & 6 goals in a match of only 4 minute halves. The captain should accept the defeat gracefully and not shamelessly blame it on injuries.