The National Soccer Academy Ground in Paposh area of North Nazimabad Town, Karachi saw the inauguration of the Hamara Karachi Festival 7-a-side Football Tournament by MNA Farhan Khan (MQM) and Farrukh Humayun Zaidi (Administrator North, Nazimabad Town) as chief guests on 5 March 2011. The chief guests applauded the steps taken for the tournament, and expressed their desire to help NSA expand its ground to be used for proper 11-a-side games, as well as helping to give the players proper dressing room facilities in near future.
Other guests present at the occasion included Mushtaq Ahmed (ADO CDGK), Shabir Hussain (DDO CDGK), chief organiser Arshad Jamal, organising secretary Riaz Ahmed, ex-internationals Muhammad Shamim Khan, Mohsin Shah, and Syed Sultan Ali, Lyceum School sports officer Hassan Zaidi, coach Ahsan Raza, Asif Khan, Muhammad Azhar, Abdul Karim (member Central), Khalid Majeed etc.
The opening fixture of the 7-side festival saw Al-Shabaz Korangi beat Gulshan Soccer 5-3 on penalties after 2-2 draw in normal time to confirm their place in the quarter-finals. Abdul Rehman and Akhtar Rasheed scored for Al-Shabaz while Arsalan Naqvi scored both goals for Gulshan Soccer in normal time.
Under floodlights, Gharib Shah Union (Lyari) beat Khyber Muslim (Baldia) in a stunning game 4-3 to go through to next round. Gharib Shah led 2-0 at half time with Yaqoob Baloch and Sheroz Baloch scoring once each. In 2nd half, Noor Muhammad and Bilal Afridi helped Khyber Muslim make the score 2-2 to add drama in the encounter. Yaqoob Baloch added his second (37′) to make it 3-2 for Gharib Shah but Bilal Afridi scored his second to make 3-3 in 44th minute. But Yaqoob Baloch completed his hat-trick in 51st minute to decide the tie 4-3 in favour of Gharib Shah Union.
Referee was Habib Ullah while match commissioner was Abdul Karim. On Monday, Baloch Youth Garden face off against Shah Faisal Nazimabad at 5 PM while FC Rovers (Malir) face Frontier City at 8 PM.
HAMARA KARACHI FESTIVAL {7-A-SIDE) FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
Venue: National Soccer Academy, Paposh, North Nazimabad Town
Al-Shabaz Korangi defeated Gulshan-e-Soccer 5-3 p.s.o. (2-2) at full time
Al-Shabaz (2): Akhtar Rasheed 17, Abdul Rahman 37
Gulshan Soccer (2): Arsalan Naqvi (2) 5, 26
Chief Guest Mr. Farhat Khan, MNA, inaugurating the tournament
Gharib Shah Union Lyari defeated Khaber Muslim Baldia 4-3 (2-0)
Gharib Shah Union (4): Yaqoob Baloch (3) 5,37,51, Sheroz Baloch 12
Khaber Muslim (3): Noor Mohammad 27 Bilal Afridi (2) 30, 44
Referee Habibullah Khan while Match Commissioner was Abdul Karim, Member Dist. Central
Fixture (Monday) 7.3.2011
Baloch Youth Garden vs Shah Faisal Nazimabad at 5:00 pm
FC Rovers Malir vs Frontier City at 8:00 pm