KARACHI: K-Electric are a game away from history. The Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) champions could become the first side from the country to reach the AFC Cup if they overcome Bahrain’s Al Hidd in a playoff on February 9.

The draw for the playoffs was made on Friday with the group stage draw set to be made on December 10, meaning K-Electric would know their fate in Asia’s second-tier club competition before the game against Al Hidd.

But K-Electric will have to do without their inspirational sports head Zabe Khan. Zabe, who’s led K-Electric’s transformation from Pakistan football’s also-rans to genuine title contenders before they won their maiden PPFL title last season, is set to leave the side later this month.

“It’s been a spectacular journey with K-Electric,” Zabe told Dawn on Thursday. “I’m satisfied at where I’ve taken the side and how I’m leaving them.

“We’re on the cusp of history [as far as the AFC Cup is concerned] and I’ll make proper arrangements to make sure we achieve qualification before I leave.”

K-Electric, who negotiated a qualifying playoff stage to reach the playoffs, will also not have the services of head-coach Majid Shafiq who left after their participation in the Sheikh Kamal Club Championship in Bangladesh in October. Al Hidd, meanwhile, are coached by former Pakistan head coach Salman Sharida.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2015