KARACHI, May 29: Eight teams will be in action at inaugural Under-16 national football championship which gets under way from Sunday at CDGK Stadium.
Apart from Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and NWFP, outfits from Islamabad, Fata and Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas will also be vying in the tournament being organized by Sindh Football Association.
Since the competition will be played at Under-16 level, it is yet to be seen what will be the standard of the participants as Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has decided to have grassroots activity for the first time.
Pakistan, a recipient of FIFA's Financial Aid Programme (FAP) for the last six years and receive $250,000 annually, are yet to form their national Under-16 squad.
Although nothing extraordinary is being expected by the provincial sides because of long neglect by the PFF, Northern Areas, Fata, Islamabad and Azad Kashmir could perform even worse than the provinces.
However, absence of departmental teams in the tournament may take some gloss off the tournament.
But a PFF official hoped Northern Areas and Fata would give a tough time to the oppositions as they had tremendous potential.
"Northern Areas have entered in PFF event for the first time and they along with Fata can produce upsets. But I agree provinces having a established set up will dominate," said PFF technical director Col Mujahidullah Khan.
Though he contended that departments were not invited as they had no Under-16 sides, he conceded departments should have been part of the championship.
"I agree departments should have been involved to make the event more competitive and I hope teams from departments will feature in the competition in future."
Balochistan will take on Azad Kashmir in the opener at 4.00pm and Northern Areas meet Punjab at 5.30pm.
According to organizers, from the second day of the contest, the second game is likely to be day-night encounter under lights while the first would be played in the day.
Schedule:
May 30: Balochistan v Azad Kashmir; Northern Areas v Punjab.
May 31: Sindh v Islamabad; Fata v NWFP.
June 1: Balochistan v Northern Areas; Azad Kashmir v Punjab.
June 2: Islamabad v NWFP; Sindh v Fata.
June 3: Azad Kashmir v Northern Area; Balochistan v Punjab.
