LAHORE, June 23: The First National Football Challenge Cup (Pool D) moves to elimination phase when Sindh Government Press (SGP) take on Pakistan Public Works Department (PPWD) on Friday at City District Government Karachi Stadium.
The other penultimate round tussle on June 25 will see Pakistan Navy against Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC).
Navy’s record is better than KESC in domestic soccer. The seamen were losing finalist in 46th National Championship at Lahore while they were semifinalists in 1948, 2000 and 2003. Their best display in PFF President Cup was seen in 2003 when they finished fourth in 16th and last edition at Quetta.
KESC never reached last four of National Championship while their best performance in PFF Cup was third place in 2002.
The third-place decider will be held on June 26, followed by final on 27 June. The finalists and winner of third-place match will enter Stage-II while the loser of third-place match will join Habib Bank Limited (HBL), Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF), Islamabad’s Mehran Club, Northern Areas’s DFA XI (Gilgit), Azad Jammu & Kashmir’s Pilot Club, Pakistan Railways, Lahore’s City FC, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), City District Government Karachi (CDGK), Karachi’s Mauripur Baloch Club, Naka Muhammadan Club and Korangi Rangers Club who are already eliminated.
The winner and No. 3 team of Pool D will join Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), Lahore’s Hafiz Wohaib Butt Memorial Club/Faisalabad’s Panther Club and Winner Pool E in Stage-II (Group-1) while No.2 team at KMC Stadium will be bracketed with Pakistan Army, Karachi Port Trust (KPT), National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and Winner Pool A in Stage-II (Group-2).—APP
