Khan Research Laboratories won the NBP 21st National Challenge Cup beating KESC in the final on Wednesday. KRL clinched the title by 1-0 difference and the all important goal of the match was scored by Husnain Abbas. He was impressive in KRL’s dominance of the match. It was Samar Ishaq who hit an accurate hit on a free kick to let Abbas do the rest with his header. KRL dominated the match but had to settle with just on goal as KESC’s decision to field Mohammad Rasool, who was nursing an injury, backfired and he was totally out of colour. Even Muhammad Essa could not help KESC from winning the Samar Ishaq-led KRL.
The event will be remembered for a lifetime due to the death of PFF Media Manager Syed Akbar Ali Wahidi, who breathed his last in the morning of the second semi-final between KESC and PIA. His death seems to be the death of soccer in Pakistan. Wahidi was the person who was keeping the game alive in media that led to the PFF laurels in several sponsors and gained popularity for its president Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat. Earlier, Army clinched bronze medal after beating PIA 3-0 in their third-place playoff match of the NBP Football Club at the Bohranwali Football Ground in Faisalabad. Both teams failed to provide worthwhile entertainment to the large crowd which had thronged the venue as it turned out to be a one-sided affair with PIA failing to offer any resistance.
Army drew first blood in the 20th minute when Mohammad Ikram’s pile-driver beat international gloveman Bilal Rafiq. Army, under experienced goalie Jaffer Khan, doubled their lead two minutes later when Shabbir Hussain scored. In the second-half, the soldiers could have added to their tally but Ikram struck the post in the 56th before Safeer inflated Army’s tally to 3-0 after capitalising on a deft pass from Shabbir.