KARACHI, May 15: The Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) opened their latest National Challenge Cup bid with a 1-0 victory against Pakistan Police on Wednesday.

The KESC, losing finalists in the last two editions of the country’s premier cup competition, are hoping to go one better this time around and prevailed in their Group ‘B’ opener at the Dring Football Stadium in Bahwalpur courtesy Abdul Salam’s winner.

“We want to win this tournament as we’ve lost the final twice in the last two years,” KESC sports and marketing head Zabe Khan told Dawn.

“It has been heartbreaking for us over the last few years but we want to end all that with a trophy,” Zabe, whose side lost last year’s final to the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) before ending as runners-up to Tariq Lutfi’s side in the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL), added.

In the other Group ‘B’ match, Wapda were 3-0 winners against the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).

Meanwhile, Pakistan Army, without the services of captain and goalkeeper Jaffar Khan, recorded a thumping 5-1 victory against Bhatti United FC in their Group ‘C’ opener.

Also in Group ‘C’, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), meanwhile, were playing Hasan Baloch-led National Youth U-18 in the late match on Wednesday.

Defending champions KRL kick off their campaign on Thursday, buoyed after their progression to the next round of the AFC President’s Cup last week.

“The team is in good shape and we have a lot of confidence that we’ll be able to retain the title,” Lutfi said.

Thursday’s fixtures: Group ‘A’: Khan Research Laboratories v Ashraf Sugar Mills; Habib Bank Limited v Pak-Afghan Clearing Agency.Group ‘D’: Pakistan Air Force v Higher Education Commission; National Bank of Pakistan v Bahawalpur.