KARACHI, April 14 Three matches will be played as the NBP Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) National Football Challenge Cup (NFCC) kicks off at the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) Stadium, Hyderabad, on Wednesday.

Habib Bank Limited (HBL) will play against Higher Education Commission (HEC) at 8.30am, defending champions Navy will take on PEL at 2.00pm and Wapda will face Pakistan Air Force (PAF) at 4.00pm.

The tournament carrying Rs400,000 in prize money features 16 teams that have been divided into four groups. Wapda, HBL, PAF and HEC are in Group `A` while Army, PIA, Pakistan Steel and SSGC) complete Group `B`.

Sponsors NBP are in Group `C` along with KRL, KESC and SGP. Meanwhile, Group `D` comprises Navy, KPT, PEL and hosts DFA Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, PTV and Railways have withdrawn their teams from the tournament with HEC and DFA Hyderabad coming in their place.

The winners will be awarded Rs150,000, the runners-up Rs100,000, third position holders Rs75,000 and winners of the Fair Play Trophy will get Rs30,000. The individual awards include the Best Player prize worth Rs15,000 and two Golden Boot and Best Goalkeeper prizes worth Rs10,000 each. The event concludes on April 28.

Draws

April 15 HBL v HEC at 8.30am; Navy v PEL at 2.00pm, Wapda v PAF at 4.00pm.

April 16 Army v SSGC at 8.30am; KPT v DFA Hyderabad at 2.00pm; PIA v Pakistan Steel at 4.00pm.

April 17 KRL v SGP at 8.30am; NBP v KESC at 2.00pm; PAF v HBL at 4.00pm.

April 18 Navy v DFA Hyderabad at 8.30am; Wapda v HEC at 2.00pm; KPT v PEL at 4.00pm.

April 19 SSGC v PIA at 8.30am; Army v Pakistan Steel at 2.00pm; NBP v SGP at 4.00pm.

April 20 PEL v DFA Hyderabad at 8.30pm; KRL v KESC at 2.00pm; KPT v Navy at 4.00pm.

April 21 PAF v HEC at 8.30am, PIA v Army at 2.00pm; Wapda v HBL at 4.00pm.

April 22 SSGC v Pak Steel at 8.30am, SGP v KESC at 2.00pm, KRL v NBP at 4.00pm.

April 23, 24 Quarter-finals from 12.30 to 3.30pm.

April 26 Semi-finals from 12.30 to 3.30pm.

April 27 Third position decider at 3.30pm.

April 28 Final at 3.30pm.