Super League Football Kicks-off in Pakistan Today
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

KARACHI: The Super League Football Championship kicks-off at Peoples Stadium Lyari from Friday evening at a colorful ceremony and firework.

Karachi Bazigar will take on Lahore Lajpal in the opening match of the championship held with joint collaboration of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and Geo Super.

Besides Lahore and Karachi country’s top teams Islamabad United, Quetta

Zawwar and Peshawar FC Tribe are featuring in the double league competition

The basic objective of conducting the championship was raised the overall standard of the game across the country. Entry into the stadium will be free, organizers said.

First ever Super Football League (SFL) will commence will go into action today, Friday,at Karachi’s famous People sports stadium.

On the opening day, two biggest cities Lahore and Karachi will be in action in a match already termed as “Clash of the Giants” kicking off at 9 PM,said a spokesman of PFF on Thursday.

He said as many as league 20 matches would be played in the 52-day soccer gala among Karachi, Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore and Quetta with each team playing each other twice.

He said PFF on the directive of President Faisal Saleh Hayat abolished the outdated method of National Championship by replacing it with League system in 2004, followed by launching of first-ever National Women Championship and National Soccer Challenge Cup in 2005. The year 2006 saw launching of National C-Division Soccer League and now in 2007 Super Football League has been introduced, comprising 23 (20 league, 3 elimination) matches.

The SFL which ends on September 9 and the matches will be played under floodlights after semifinals September 6 and 7. PFF fixed Thursday, Friday and Saturday as day of matches in order to provide ample rest to each team.

PFF President pledged to continue his drive to youth development, women soccer and to professionalize the game in Pakistan. The newly-introduced SFL will provide handsome money to players and it is a big step towards prosperity of football players.

“We have achieved a lot in the last four years. It will be my endeavour to see that Pakistan football is one day recognized as the best, at least in Asia. We need to set the highest benchmark possible in terms of professionalism,” said Faisal,adding that the Leagues since 2004 are producing talented footballers in the country and his decision was tuned to perfection when Pakistan won the gold in 10th South Asian Games last year.

Draws of Super Football League:

League phase, July 20: Karachi v Lahore,July 21: Peshawar v Islamabad,July 26: Quetta v Peshawar,July 27: Islamabad v Karachi,July 28: Peshawar v Lahore,August 2: Karachi v Quetta ,August 3: Islamabad v Peshawar,August 4: Lahore v Quetta,August 9: Quetta v Islamabad,August 10: Peshawar v Karachi,August 11: Islamabad v Lahore, August 16: Lahore v Peshawar,August 17: Karachi v Islamabad,August 18: Quetta v Lahore,August 23: Karachi v Peshawar,August 24: Lahore v Islamabad,August 25: Quetta v Karachi,August 30: Islamabad v Quetta,August 31: Lahore v Karachi,September 1: Peshawar v Quetta.

Elimination Phase : September 6, 7,(Semi finals),September 9 (final).●