The Pakistan Football Federation’s 9th Pakistan Premier Football League-2012 (9Tth PPFL-2012), featuring 11 departmental and 5 clubs teams is going to kick off on Wednesday, (September 5) with matches being played simultaneously in four cities – Karachi, Quetta, Islamabad and Lahore – on the opening day.
Muslim FC taking on Afghan FC at the Chaman’s Government High School, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will face Khan Research Laboratory (KRL) at Jinnah Football Stadium, Islamabad, while National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) will face Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) at Agah Khan Gymkhana Ground, Karachi, Karachi Port Trust (KPT) will face NAVY at the KPT Football Stadium, Karachi and Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA) will compete with PMC ATH FC at Railway Football Stadium in Lahore.
The 16 teams taking part in the marathon event to continue till Saturday, December 29, 2012 comprising Afghan FC Chaman, Muslim FC Chaman, Baloch FC Noushki, PMC Athletico FC, KRL, Wohaib FC, Pakistan Army, WAPDA, KESC, Pakistan International Airline (PIA), NBP, Habib Bank Limited (HBL), Navy, PAF, KPT and Zarai Tarqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) will take part in this mega event which will include newly upgraded teams ZTBL and Wohaib FC from B Division League. In the previous edition of the PPFL, KRL finished as champions while Police and Pak Electron Limited (PEL) were relegated.
For the first phase of 9th PPFL-2012, out of a total of 240 matches 64 will be played before Sunday, September 30, 2012 at 12 venues in seven cities of all over the country.
The venues selected by the host team and approved by PFF for holding matches in Karachi comprise Agah Khan Gymkhana Ground, KPT Football Stadium, Peoples Football Stadium and Korangi Baloch Ground, Quetta comprise Mali Bagh Ground, Islamabad comprise Jinnah Football Stadium, Lahore comprise Railway Football Stadium and UMT Football Ground, Faisalabad comprise PMC Football Ground, Rawalpindi comprise KRL Football Stadium and Army Stadium and Noushki comprise Noushki Football Stadium.