KARACHI: Mohammad Ahmed’s powerful header saw Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) scrape past National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) 1-0 and lift the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Cup on Monday.

The central defender connected with Yasir Afridi’s free-kick in the 75th minute of the title clash at the Punjab Stadium in Lahore with KRL throwing the gauntlet at their rivals after lifting the trophy.

“We’re back on top [of Pakistan football],” a delighted KRL manager Ayaz Butt told Dawn. “The PFF Cup has given us a smile after a lean period in which the game suffered.”

The lean period ran since KRL won the National Challenge Cup last April, before the PFF split into two factions in the lead-up to its presidential elections, till the PFF Cup which began with the qualification round on January 28.

Hailing the step of the court-appointed PFF Administrator — appointed to sort out the mess surrounding the country’s football governing body — of holding the PFF Cup, Ayaz said now his team needed more competitions.

“The league should now resume and only after we win it would my desire be satiated,” said Ayaz, adding that KRL — after several high-profile departures in the last two years — were now looking to add to their four Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) titles.

At the concluding ceremony, Mansoor Khan of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was given the best player of the tournament for guiding his side to third place. KRL goalkeeper Saqib Hanif was named the best goalkeeper while Pakistan Police won the fairplay award.

NASIR SLAMS TSG DECISIONS

NBP coach Nasir Ismail, while gutted with the defeat, came down hard on the Technical Study Group’s (TSG) decisions.

“The TSG, comprising Najeebullah Najmi, Bilal Butt, Mohammad Habib and Akhtar Mohaiuddin, have made technically wrong decisions,” Nasir told Dawn.

“These decisions have been made on favouritism and not merit,” he alleged.

“[NBP’s] Mohammad Omar should’ve been best goalkeeper since he conceded just one goal and saved three penalties during the course of the tournament while the best player award should’ve gone to a player who was part of the two finalist teams.”

Nasir and Ayaz both, however, hailed the resumption of football and welcomed further tournaments.

They had issues, however, with the format of the DG Rangers Football Tournament which is slated to kick off on March 9 in Karachi.

“From what I’ve heard, it’s going to be a knockout tournament so it wouldn’t make sense for us to travel all the way to Karachi and risk going back home after just one match,” said Ayaz, with KRL based in Islamabad.

“If they will have a group stage which guarantees us at least a couple or more games, then we will take part.”

Unlike KRL, NBP are based in Karachi but the tournament format means Nasir “will try his younger lot” at the event.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2016