Sports Reporter – DAWN
KARACHI, Dec 10: Wohaib FC and PMC Athletico Faisalabad suffered a setback as they began their campaign to return to the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) after a one-year hiatus next season.
Wohaib FC lost 1-0 to Milli Afghan FC in their opening match of the qualifying group stage of the Club Leg of the second-tier Pakistan Football Federation League (PFFL) on Monday while PMC Athletico were held to a goalless draw by Chand Club.
Wohaib FC, who along with PMC were relegated from the PPFL at the end of last season, were undone by Abdul Qadir’s 34th-minute strike at the Model Town Football Club Ground in Lahore in their opening Group ‘B’ match.
Wohaib FC, who are owned by former Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) secretary Hafiz Salman Butt, now need Green Star FC Okara to beat Milli Afghan FC in the next Group ‘B’ game to have any chance of going through to the final round of the Club Leg.
The final round of the Club Leg will see the top finishers from Groups ‘A’ to ‘C’ play each other in a mini-league to decide which team is promoted to the PPFL next season.
The Club Leg winners will also play the winners of the Departmental Leg winners to decide the PFFL champions.
Unlike Wohaib, PMC Athletico have their destiny in their own hands as victory in their next match against Baloch FC Quetta in Layyah will earn them top spot in Group ‘A’.
Chand Club too have a chance of sealing top spot in the group and they could put PMC Athletico under pressure ahead of the group’s final game by winning against Baloch FC Quetta, who are yet to begin their campaign, on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Baloch FC Dalbadin will fight it out with Young Rising Star FC on Thursday to decide which team wins Group ‘C’.
Baloch FC Dalbadin prevailed 1-0 over Huma Football Club courtesy Asim Mansoor’s goal in the ninth minute in Sahiwal on Tuesday.
The loss pushed Huma FC out of contention after they lost their opening game by the same score-line to Young Rising Star in their opening game on Sunday.