July 07, 2008	Monday	Rajab 3, 1429

KARACHI, July 6: After completion of the zonal matches in the initial phase of the first National Inter-club women’s football championship, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Sunday announced July 16 as the kick-off date for the tournament’s next phase — The Super Four.

The four teams to feature in the prestigious Super Four, carrying a prize of Rs115,000, comprise Lahore’s still unbeaten Wapda or WP Club from Group ‘A’, Sialkot’s Vehari Young Rising Stars from Group ‘B’ and Islamabad’s Young Rising Stars from Group ‘C’ along with whichever outfit is allowed by PFF’s disciplinary committee to qualify from Karachi’s Group ‘D’ encounters after scrutinizing Match Commissioner Hassan Baloch’s report.

Marred by controversy, the Karachi phase of the tournament saw four teams, namely, Karachi Kickers, Colony WFC, Sindh Soccerites and Karachi Dolphins, all owned by Colony Sports, pitted against the International Diya WFC. Of them, Karachi Dolphins were disqualified after playing just one match when their players failed to show up for the other encounters. The remaining three teams were accused of cheating and match-fixing by the Diya Club when Karachi Kickers who had as many points as Diya thrashed Sindh Soccerites by an unbelievably huge margin 16-1 to see themselves move ahead on goal average. Diya Club on the other hand weren’t allowed an opportunity to do better in their match against Colony WFC as that match was abandoned after a Colony Club girl complained of being hurt while refusing medical assistance, leaving the already player-short team with just six players.

The Super Four winner will bag Rs50,000, while the runners-up will get Rs30,000 with the team placed third receiving Rs20,000. Other honours include the prize for most valuable player, golden boot (for the biggest goal-scorer during league matches) and best goalkeeper, which all carry a sum of Rs5,000, respectively.