KARACHI, Nov 12: With the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) more than halfway through, the Pakistan Football Federation League (PFFL) kicks off on Tuesday to decide which two teams will be promoted to the top division next season.

The ninth edition of the PFFL, the country’s second-tier football championship, will feature 13 departmental teams and nine club sides with matches scheduled to be played in five centres — Karachi, Lahore, Okara, Sahiwal and Layyah.

The 13 departments will play each other with the top side from the departmental leg advancing to the PPFL next season with the top side from the club leg joining them in the country’s elite football event.

The PPFL’s last two finishers, meanwhile, will play in the PFFL next season as the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) looks to establish a system of relegations and promotions having skipped it completely last season.

For each PFFL match, there is a winning bonus of Rs15, 000 with the eventual winners set to receive a prize purse of Rs200, 000.

Competing teams:

Departments: Pakistan Police, Pakistan Railway, Pakistan Television (PTV), Pakistan Steel, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Pakistan Public Works Department (PPWD), Sindh Government Press (SGP), Gwadar Port Authority (GPA), Higher Education Commission (HEC), Ashraf Sugar Mill (ASM), Bhatti United Faisalabad, Pak-Afghan Clearing Agency (PACA), Insaf Afghan Company.

Clubs: University FC, Baloch FC Quetta, Young Blood FC, Afghan Sports FC, Baloch FC Noushki, Green Star FC, Chand FC, Eleven Star FC, CDA FC.

Tuesday’s fixtures:

Departmental leg: Pakistan Steel v PPWD (Steel Town Football Ground, Karachi). Club leg: Green Star FC v Baloch FC Noushki (Municipal Football Stadium, Okara).