KARACHI: As many as 20 local clubs will take part in next year’s ‘I am Karachi’ Football League with the event aimed at using sport to eradicate violence and unrest in the city.

The event, which is the 12th edition of the Karachi Football League (KFL) organised by the Karachi United Football Foundation (KUFF), is being held under the ‘I am Karachi’ banner — a consortium formed in order to promote sporting and educational activities in the city.

“We hope that the football event will play its part in bringing peace to the city,” consortium member Saad Amanullah told a news conference on Monday.

“No citizen of Karachi likes violence which has engulfed the city in recent years and we hope through sports initiatives we’ll be able to combat it.”

Imran Ali, the CEO of the KUFF, said the event is a proof of his organisation towards developing football at grass-roots level.

“We’ve been providing free coaching and education to the under-privileged youth of the country for the last 14 years,” he said. “We hope our contribution helps football in Pakistan grow further.”

Raheem Baksh Baloch, the secretary of the District West Football Association, extended full support for the league.

“I extend my full support to this event which I hope will be key in promoting football in the city,” he said.

For the first stage, the 20 teams have been divided into two groups of 10. The teams will face each other on a league basis with the top four teams from each group advancing to the Super League.

The eight teams will then again play on a round-robin basis and the top four will reach the semi-finals.

“We’re proud that the event will see teams from all five districts of the city taking part,” Karachi United FC director of football operations Taha Alizai said.

The matches would be played between January and April 2015 in different grounds of the city, including KMC Stadium, Mohammad Ali Shah Stadium and Peoples Stadium.

Group ‘A’: Khyber Muslim, Karachi United FC, Salar Welfare Centre, Usmanabad Union, Rizwan Sports, FC Rovers, Burma Mohammadan, National Fighter, Askani Brothers, Jehangir Memorial.

Group ‘B’: Irfan Memorial, Azad XI, Hunter Sports, 16 Star, Wahab XI, Lyari Brothers, Azam Sports, Muslim Brothers, Maripur Baloch, Ghani XI.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2014