KRL on track to defend PPFL title

Qasim, Murtaza help defending champions overcome Afghan FC 2-0

KARACHI: Defending champions KRL registered their second win in the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) on Sunday, defeating Afghan FC 2-0 at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad.

KRL are a different team this season, as their top players Kaleemullah, Muhammad Adil and Saddam Hussain signed up with Kyrgyzstan’s FC Dordoi earlier this year.

However, the team managed to win their opening matches despite losing strong players.

The two teams played a goalless first half before Muhammad Qasim scored the opening goal in the 59th minute and Murtaza sealed the win in the 86th.

“It’s just the beginning of the season, but we’re hoping to win the title this year as well,” Qasim told The Express Tribune. “We’re not exactly troubled. We miss Kaleem, Adil and Saddam, but have to move on and do our best.

“We had the same situation in 2006 when some of our good players had left for other clubs, but we strived and managed to stay at the top.”

Qasim added that the team is working on its weak areas in the absence of head coach Tariq Lufti, who will leave for Bahrain with the national women’s team on Monday.

“After our first match against Baloch FC, we realised that we still have weaknesses that we hope to overcome with time.

“We miss Lutfi, but he needs to be with the women’s team. We’re all constantly in touch with him.”

In another match on Sunday, Wapda and KPT played a goalless draw at the Railways Football Ground in Lahore.

 

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