KPK Khyber Start Strong as Balochistan Bolan Fight Back in Exhilarating Opening Day of PFF National U-17 Championship
ISLAMABAD: KPK Khyber made a winning start to the National U-17 Football Championship 2026 with a 3-0 victory over Punjab Potohar, while Balochistan Bolan produced a spirited second-half comeback to hold Punjab Harappa to a 2-2 draw in an exhilarating, end-to-end contest that lit up the opening day at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad.
Khyber were made to work for their victory after Potohar dominated the early exchanges and started the game with greater purpose.
The tide gradually turned, however, as Khyber settled into the contest and began to impose themselves through a strong midfield presence and energetic wing play.
Abbas opened the scoring in the 15th minute, giving Khyber the lead after they had begun to find their rhythm.
Potohar continued to compete, but Khyber grew increasingly influential as the game progressed, with their midfield engine and threat from the wings keeping their opponents on the back foot.
The result was sealed in the closing stages when Atif struck twice in quick succession, scoring in the 88th and 90th minutes to complete a 3-0 victory for Khyber.
The second game of the day produced a very different contest, as Punjab Harappa and Balochistan Bolan played out a 2-2 draw in a match that changed dramatically after half-time.
Harappa dominated the opening period and were rewarded in spectacular fashion in first-half stoppage time.
Husnain put Harappa ahead in the 45+2nd minute before Faizan doubled their advantage just two minutes later, sending Harappa into the interval with a 2-0 lead.
Bolan, however, emerged from the break with a renewed sense of purpose.
The Balochistan side adopted a never-say-die approach and began playing with greater intensity and attacking intent. The game remained end-to-end, but Bolan increasingly looked the more purposeful side as they searched for a way back.
Their pressure paid off in the 53rd minute when Zohaib pulled a goal back to make it 2-1.
Bolan continued to push and, around the 70-minute mark, were putting Harappa under sustained pressure.
The equaliser finally arrived from the penalty spot, with Kaleemullah converting in the 70th minute to bring Bolan level.
And the game refused to settle.
Both sides continued to push for a winner, trading attacks and creating opportunities at either end. Harappa threatened on the break, while Bolan continued to press with the same intensity that had transformed the game after half-time.
Neither side could find the decisive touch.
The final whistle brought an end to an exhilarating 2-2 draw, but the contest had already done its job. An end-to-end battle, a two-goal comeback and chances at both ends gave the opening day its first real taste of the energy and unpredictability of the National U-17 Championship.
Bolan and Harappa may have shared the points, but together they lit up the tournament and set the tone for what promises to be an exciting championship.
PFF National U-17 Championship Kicks Off in Islamabad as Pakistan Begins Building a New Youth Football Pathway
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation’s National U-17 Football Championship 2026 officially got underway at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad, on Thursday, with MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan formally opening the championship as Chief Guest.
The opening ceremony featured a march-past by all ten participating teams, bringing together young footballers from across Pakistan as the Federation begins putting in place a new structure for youth football and a clearer pathway towards the national teams.
Addressing the ceremony, Anjum Aqeel Khan spoke about the talent, energy and enterprise of Pakistan’s young people and their potential to contribute to the country’s future.
He also expressed his confidence in the direction of Pakistan football under PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani, saying he believed the Federation would continue to go from strength to strength and create greater opportunities for the country’s young footballers.
The opening ceremony was followed by a press conference addressed by PFF Chief Operating Officer Shahid Niaz Khokhar, PFF Vice President Hafiz Zakaullah, Islamabad Football Association President and Local Organising Committee Chief Sheikh Ahmed Rehan, and PFF Executive Committee Member Wasim Raja.
Speaking about the significance of the championship, Shahid Niaz Khokhar said the competition represented an important step in the revival of structured youth football in the country.
“For a long time, we have been missing a consistent national platform for our young footballers. This championship is about reviving youth football in Pakistan and, more importantly, putting structures in place that can continue beyond one tournament. We want young players to have regular opportunities to compete, to develop and to be identified, wherever they are in the country.”
He said the Federation’s objective was to connect youth competitions with a broader development structure, creating clearer pathways from grassroots football towards the national teams.
For many years, Pakistan’s youth national teams have largely relied on open trials and short selection camps whenever international competitions approached. While such trials provide an opportunity for players to be seen, they offer only a limited window in which a young footballer can demonstrate his ability.
Islamabad Football Association President Sheikh Ahmed Rehan said the time had come to move away from that model.
“For years, whenever Pakistan had to send a team abroad, we would announce open trials. Thousands of boys would come, and we would have a very limited period in which to identify the players. That cannot be the only way we identify talent. What we are now building is a competition-based merit system, where players have the opportunity to perform over time, and where sustained performance can define their progression.”
Rehan said the increased football activity undertaken by the Federation over the past 15 months under the leadership of President Syed Mohsen Gilani had created the foundation for this change.
“The idea is simple. If a player performs consistently, he should be seen. If he performs at a high level against strong competition, that should count. We want to move towards a system where merit and long-term performance matter, rather than one trial or one day deciding a player’s future.”
The U-17 Championship is an important part of that transition, giving young players the opportunity to compete against teams from across the country, perform under pressure and demonstrate their ability over a series of matches.
Hafiz Zakaullah highlighted that the merit-based approach should extend beyond players to the coaches and technical staff working with them.
“This system is not only about identifying talented players. It will also help us identify the coaches and technical staff who are doing outstanding work at the grassroots and competition level. If a coach is consistently producing good results and developing players, we should be able to recognise that work and give them opportunities to progress into the national team setups on merit.”
The wider objective is to create an environment in which talent identification, player development, coach development, competition, safeguarding and age integrity work together as parts of a single football pathway.
The championship also forms part of the selection pathway for Pakistan’s U-17 national team, with performances at the tournament contributing to the identification and selection of players for the squad preparing for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup.
The National U-17 Championship is therefore an important first step towards a system where progression is based on performance, merit and consistency, giving both players and technical staff a clearer opportunity to earn their place at the next level.
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