KARACHI: Much-fancied National Bank were on Monday held to a goalless draw by Afghan FC while Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) and PMC Athletico were also involved in a 0-0 stalemate in matches of the 9th Pakistan Premier Football League held at different venues of the country.
At the crowd-pulling Government High School Ground in Chaman, hosts Afghan FC, who are struggling in the season, were able to earn a crucial point after holding the injury-hit National Bank, ninth drawn encounter for the bankers which also affected their position as they moved to 30 points from 19 games.
“I was really disappointed by the selfish approach of my strikers,” NBP coach Nasir Ismail told ‘The News’ from the scenic town bordering Afghanistan’s southern province of Kandahar.
“We have played nine dawn matches so far which means that we have lost 18 crucial points mainly due to our frontline selfish approach,” said Nasir, who was removed by the PFF as assistant coach of Pakistan team before their tour of Singapore, a few days ago.
“Altogether, as compared to the rest of the matches, the boys played with commitment and aggression. There was around 18,000 to 20,000 crowd and many spectators were sitting even in the technical area. It’s a great centre but there is a need of proper security as a brigade of ten to 15 constables will not be able to deal with any incident and public violence which could also invite a ban on league from the world football governing body,” Nasir pointed out.
Afghan FC’s goalkeeper Abdul Waheed was the star performer of the game as he saved several goals in acrobatic fashion – a performance that earned him the best player award of Rs2500.
By virtue of the single point, Afghan FC stretched their tally to 16 from 16 meetings.Afghan FC, who had been a strong side before the season, experienced a crack in its management which weakened the side as most of the senior players are not representing the side for this season.
Meanwhile, at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad, Faisalabad-based PMC Athletico got a valuable point to take their tally to 13 from 18 meetings after holding debutants ZTBL.
ZTBL, who had got entry into the top league after winning the PFF League B Division last year, moved to 19 points from 18 matches.
The two bottom-placed sides Nushki’s Baloch FC and Lahore’s Wohaib Club are running in the relegation zone and it seems they will not be able to ensure their berths for the next season.
Wohaib Club, owned by former PFF secretary Hafiz Salman Butt, have been playing in the league after spending four years in relegation.
Today’s fixtures: Army v WAPDA (Army Stadium, Rawalpindi), Muslim FC v HBL (Government High School, Chaman), KRL v Wohaib FC (KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi).
Source: The News
9th Pakistan Premier Football League-2012(9th PPFL-2012)
Match Results (Monday, November 05, 2012)
Match # 139
ZTBL Vs PMC FC 0:0 Draw @ 14:30 PST @ Jinnah Football Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan
Yellow Card ZTBL: Muhammad Naveed (DF) @ 54 Mnt and Abdul Samad (MF) @ 69 Mnt.
Best Player: Abdul Samad (MF) of ZTBL
Match Commissioner: Zaman Khan Cell # 0300-5343428
Match # 140
Afghan FC Vs NBP 0:0 Draw @ 15:00 PST @ Government High School, Chaman, Pakistan
Yellow Card NBP: Adam Khan (FW) @ 75 Mnt.
Best Player: Abdul Waheed (Goalkeeper) of Afghan FC
Match Commissioner: Salah-ud-Din Awan Cell # 0302-5932197
9th PPFL-2012 Fixture :( Tuesday, November 06, 2012)
Match # 141 Army Vs WAPDA @ 14:30 PST @ Army Stadium, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Match # 142 Muslim FC Vs HBL @ 15:00 PST @ Government High School, Chaman, Pakistan
Match # 157 KRL Vs Wohaib FC @ 14:30 PST @ KRL Football Stadium, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P | Last 5 matches | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KRL | 16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 35 | 9 | +26 | 40 | W W W W W | ||
| 2 | Pakistan Air Force | 18 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 34 | 10 | +24 | 37 | W W D W W | ||
| 3 | Pakistan Army | 18 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 25 | 7 | +18 | 37 | W W L W D | ||
| 4 | Karachi Electric | 17 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 31 | 12 | +19 | 36 | W W W L W | ||
| 5 | National Bank | 19 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 20 | 12 | +8 | 30 | D L L D W | ||
| 6 | Muslim | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 22 | 20 | +2 | 30 | W W W W L | ||
| 7 | WAPDA | 17 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 24 | 20 | +4 | 22 | L L D W D | ||
| 8 | Pakistan Navy | 17 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 16 | -1 | 19 | L D W D D | ||
| 9 |  |
ZTBL | 18 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 19 | -6 | 19 | D W D W L | |
| 10 | Karachi Port Trust | 17 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 25 | -11 | 17 | D L D L L | ||
| 11 |  |
Pakistan Airlines | 15 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 13 | -4 | 16 | L L L D D | |
| 12 | |
Afghan | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 20 | -8 | 16 | D W D D L | |
| 13 | |
Habib Bank | 18 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 24 | -15 | 16 | L D L L W | |
| 14 | |
PMC Athletico | 17 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 17 | -5 | 13 | D L D L L | |
| 15 | |
Baloch | 18 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 33 | -28 | 9 | D L L L L | |
| 16 | |
Wohaib | 17 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 30 | -23 | 8 | L L W D L |