The All-Karachi Nooruddun Nooro Memorial Football Tournament final was played at Young Muslim Football Ground in Orangi 5, Karachi between two DFA West sides Frontier City FC and Malik Tareen FC yesterday, 8 Oct 2011. Frontier City fought hard to beat Malik Tareen 3-2 to be awarded the winner’s trophy.
The match started at even pace with 1-1 score at half time. Sajjad Khan gave Frontier City the lead but Malik Tareen captain Sudam Khan equalised just before the break. In 2nd half, Shahid Khan then scored two quickfire goals to put Frontier City 3-1 up before Naimat Ullah managed to make it 3-2 just before referee Javed Iqbal’s final whistle.
16 teams took part in the Nooruddin Nooro Memorial tournament on knock-out basis hosted by Young Muslim FC. Young Muslim faced Orangi Millat in first quarter, Orangi Mohammedan faced Muhammad Khan Memorial in second one, Malik Tareen faced Young Ansari in third, and Frontier City faced Fazal Memorial in final quarter final. Malik Tareen and Frontier City then beat Young Muslim and Orangi Mohammadan respectively in the semi-finals to reach the final of the tournament. Young Muslim patron Pervaiz Qasu had inaugurated the tournament. Javed Iqbal, Abdul Hafeez, M Rizwan, and Ibrar Khan were referees throughout the tournament.
The match was attended by chief guest Saleem Patni, former Pakistan international who was part of the 1989 SAF Games football gold winning side and currently vice-president of DFA Central Karachi. In the final ceremony Saleem Patni said, “Football cannot progress unless grassroot work is given full focus. That is why including youth players in teams is necessary for teams not just in Karachi but also in rest of Pakistan. Senior players and junior players should be given equal opportunities to play the game and for that reason the district, provincial and national football authorities should play their role in this regard”.
The ceremony was presided over by DFA West secretary and congress member of Sindh FA Rahim Bakhsh, and he agreed with Saleem Patni’s views about encouraging youth players to participate more in competitive football. Prizes were distributed among the finalist teams, with Frontier City’s Shahid Khan winning man of the final while Malik Tareen captain Sudam Khan winning man of the tournament awards.
The match was also attended by FPDC correspondent and football journalist Riaz Ahmed, DFA Central vice-president Muhammad Shamim, tournament organising secretary Zakir Khan, Chairman Referees Association DFA West Ch. Israr, Rashid Munna, Khalid Majeed, Yousaf Bhai et al.