PPFL concludes; Wapda stroll into AFC President’s Cup
LAHORE: With Asian Cupper Abdul Ghafoor scoring twice in the 28th and 79th minute, KESC forced their way to fourth place with a 2-1 win over National Champions Wapda.
Pakistan Water & Power Development Authority (Wapda), who won the National Games football title in Islamabad yesterday, secured the berth in the seventh AFC President's Cup event also when they clinched the Pakistan Premier League 2010 in Karachi on 12 December at Karachi's Kharadar.
Wapda, who slotted a lone goal on Thursday through Arif Mehmood in the 85th minute, won the top prize with 67 points in 30 matches while KRL and PIA finished in second and third spot respectively with 58 and 57 points.
KESC secured 4th place with 55 points. Army were not on the podium for the first time in six years with fifth position (54 points). KPT (51) also entered the fifties points figure, finishing sixth. PAF (45), Afghan FC and Navy (both 42 pts) pocketed seventh, eighth and ninth places respectively.
Lahore-based PEL did well to finish above bankers. Asghan Anjum's team finished tenth over 11th placed NBP and 13th place HBL. Baloch FC of Nushki finished 12th with 34 points. Haroon Yousof-led PMC drifted away from relegation zone in only their last match on Tuesday at Chaman, leaving newly-promoted SSGC and Young Blood back to the lower division with 20 and 18 points respectively.
Syed Khadim Ali Shah, the vice-president of PFF, was the chief guest of the match and on PFF's President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat's direction presented cash prizes to teams and players.
Wapda grabbed the winning trophy and gold medals from the chief guest in addition to Rs.6 lacs while KRL had to settle for silver medals and Rs.4 lacs. PIA were awarded bronze medals and Rs.3 lacs.
PIA's stopper Muhammad Haji was adjudged Most Valuable Player (MVP) and he pocketed Rs. 1,00,000 while leading marksman Arif Mehmood (Wapda, 21 goals) and best goal-keeper Muhammad Omer of KESC took Rs. 50,000 each.
In order to promote sportsmanship, the PFF chief had also decided to hand over Rs.1,00,000 to the winner of the Fair Play trophy and Chaman's Afghan FC received the award.