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LAHORE, May 24: National Football Challenge Cup kicks off on June 1 with five matches to be played simultaneously at different grounds of the country. The competition carries a purse of about Rs1 million out of which the winners will receive Rs300,000 while the runners-up will go home richer by Rs200,000. Cash prizes will also be awarded to top 12 teams.
According to the draws announced by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), 27 teams will take part in the first phase.
The teams have been divided into five pools named alphabetically from ‘A’ to ‘E’.
The Pool ‘A’ matches will be held in Peshawar, ‘B’ in POF Wah Cantt, ‘C’ in Lahore/Faisalabad, ‘D’ at CDGK Stadium, Karachi and ‘E’ in Quetta.
Seven top teams of phase-I will join national champions Wapda, Khan Research Laboratories, Army, Karachi Port Trust and National Bank of Pakistan in the second round.
Following is the group position and draws of the first phase:
Pool ‘A’ (at Peshawar): Higher Education Commission; Young Eleven Club, Dera Ismail Khan; Mardan Club, Mardan; PA Eleven Club, Miranshah; Winner of NWFP League. The winners of Pool ‘A’ will take on Pakistan Air Force in a playoff.
Fixtures: June 1: Young XI vs HEC; June 2: PA Eleven vs Mardan Club; June 3: Young Eleven vs Winner NWFP League; June 4: PA Eleven vs HEC; June 5: Young Eleven vs Mardan Club; June 6: PA Eleven vs NWFP winners; June 7: HEC vs Young Eleven; June 8: winners NWFP vs Mardan Club; June 9: PA Eleven vs Young Eleven; June 10: HEC vs winners NWFP; June 12: winners of Pool vs PAF; June 14: PAF vs winners of Pool ‘A’ (playoff).
Pool ‘B’ (POF, Wah Cantt): POF; Mehran Club, Islamabad; winners of Northern Areas and Azad Jammu and Kashmir Leagues; winners of Pool ‘B’ will clash with PTCL in playoff.
Fixtures: June 1: Mehran Club, vs POF; June 2: winners of AJK vs winners Northern Areas; June 4: POF vs winners AJK; June 5: Mehran Club vs Northern Areas; June 7: Mehran Club, AJK winners; June 8: POF vs Northern Areas winners; June 11: winners Pool ‘B’ vs PTCL; June 13: PTCL vs winners of Pool ‘B’.
Pool ‘C’ (at Lahore/Faisalabad): Railways, Wohaib Club, Lahore; City Club, Lahore; Panthers Club, Faisalabad.
Fixtures: At Faisalabad: June 1: Panthers Club vs City Club; June 3: Panthers Club vs Wohaib Club; June 5: Panthers Club vs Railways; at University ground, Lahore: June 1: Wohaib Club vs Railways; June 3: City Club vs Railways; June 5: Wohaib Club vs City Club; at Railways Stadium, Lahore: June 7: Railways vs City Club; June 8: Wohaib Club vs Panthers Club; June 10: Railways vs Wohaib Club; June 11: City Club vs Panthers Club; June 13: City Club vs Wohaib Club; June 14: Railways vs Panthers Club.
Pool ‘D’ (at CDGK Stadium, Karachi):
Teams:
Group-I: Navy; Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD); Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC); City District Government Karachi (CDGK); Karachi’s Mauripur Baloch Club.
Group-II: Habib Bank Limited (HBL); Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC); Sindh Government Press (SGP); Naka Muhammadan Club, Karachi; Rangers Club, Korangi.
Fixtures:June 1: PWD vs Mauripur Baloch; SSGC vs CDGK; June 2: HBL vs Naka Mohammedan; KESC vs Korangi Rangers; June 3: Navy vs CDGK; SSGC PWD; June 4: KESC vs Naka Mohammedan; Korangi Rangers vs SGP; June 5: Navy vs Mauripur Baluch; PWD vs CDGK; June 6: HBL vs Korangi Rangers; KESC vs SGP; June 7: CDGK vs Mauripur Baluch; Navy vs SSGC; June 8: Naka Muhammadan vs Korangi Rangers; HBL vs SGP; June 9: SSGC vs Mauripur Baluch; Navy vs PWD; June 10: SGP vs Naka Mohammedan; HBL vs KESC; June 12: Semifinals (Winners of Group-I vs Runners-up of Group-II); June 13: Semifinals (Winner of Group-II vs Runners-up of Group- I); June 15: Third place match. June 16: Final.
Pool ‘E’ (at Quetta): Afghan Club, Chaman; Baloch Club, Quetta; Police; winners of Balochistan League.
Fixtures: June 1: Baloch Club vs Police; June 3: Police vs Afghan Club; June 4: Baloch Club vs winners Balochistan League; June 6: Police vs winners Balochistan League; June 7: Baloch Club vs Afghan Club; June 9: Winner Balochistan League vs Afghan Club; June 10: Police vs Baloch Club; June 11: Afghan Club vs winners Balochistan League; June 13: winners of Balochistan League vs Police; June 15: winners of Balochistan League vs Baloch Club; June 17: Police vs Baloch Club; June 19: Afghan Club vs Baloch Club.
