LAHORE – National Champions Wapda added another feather to their winning cap when they beat Pakistan Air Force 1-0 in the final of the 31st National Games football tournament on Wednesday in Islamabad.
Wapda regained the title after a lapse of 18 years under their jubilant coach Muhammad Habib – a qualified international coach. Wapda’s last triumph was recorded in 1992 under late Muhammad Aslam Japani.
Wapda dominated the 90-minute tussle with PAF. The lone goal of the final emerged in the 62nd minute when Referee Chaman Khan penalized PAF defender’s reckless challenge inside the area and immediately pointed to the spot. Wapda skipper Arif Mehmood made no mistake to give his team a win.
It turned out to be a disappointing event for the defending champions Army, who lost the third-position playoff to Navy 2-4 on penalty shootouts after 0-0 at full time.
The soldiers fielded an understrength line up as many of their players are still busy in PPFL at Karachi.
Teams:
Wapda: Arif Mehmood, Naveed Akram, Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Abdul Aziz, Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Asif, Akram Masih, Mehmood Ali, Muhammad Ahmed, Haider Ali, Jadeed Khan, Muzammil Hussain, Tanveer Ahmed, Shahzad, Zahid Hameed, Muhammad Tauseef, Ali Sher, Khuda Bahhsh, Usman Manzoor, Rizwan Safdar. Coach: Muhammad Habib
PAF: Muhammad Arshad, Muhammad Pervez, Muhammad Jamil, Maqsood Khan, Khalid Khan, Saleh Khan, Irfan Ali, Amir Khan, Muhammad Asif, Mudassar Wasim, Aamir Hussain, Afzal Ur Rehman, Aamir Ali Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Zeeshan, Muhammad Arif, Muhammad Junaid, Nizam Uddin, Naeem Iqbal, Mujahid Ali. Coach: Tauqeer Abbas
Previous Gold Medalists:
1982-Peshawar: Pakistan Air Force
1986-Quetta: Balochistan
1990-Nowshera: Punjab
1992-Lahore: Wapda
1995-Quetta: Pakistan Army
1997-Karachi: Pakistan Army
1998-Peshawar: Punjab
2001-Lahore: PakistanArmy
2004-Quetta: Pakistan Army
2007-Karachi: Pakistan Army
2010-Peshawar: Wapda
Wapda clinch football gold after 18 years
