The 5th DOSTI Playing For Peace U16 Futsal Tournament, organised jointly by Karachi United Football Foundation (KUFF) and British Council across Karachi, saw National Shaheen Academy (Baldia) beat KUFF North Nazimabad Centre 4-3 on penalties after 0-0 draw in final to be crowned champions today, 3 June 2012, at Baldia Town Football Stadium in Karachi.
A total of 8 teams participated in the 5th such DOSTI event at the venue that saw it being divided into pitches where matches were played simultaneously in the one-day U16 futsal event. KUFF North Nazimabad hammered Al-Noor Football Academy (Faqir Colony) 9-0 in 1st quarter final with goals from Ali Raza (3), Saad Ullah (3), Shahbaz (2), and Shams Taj (1).
2nd quarter-final saw National Shaheen Football Academy beat Clifton Soccer Academy 3-0 with goals from Habib (2) and Umair (1). 3rd quarter-final saw Khyber Muslim Academy beat Baldia Academy 4-0 with a hat-trick from Shehryar. 4th quarter-final saw Young Ittehad Football Academy beat Rana Football Academy 1-0 with Aman scoring lone goal.
Semi-final stage saw KUFF North Nazimabad beat Khyber Muslim Academy 3-0 with goals from Ali Raza (2) and Mehmood (1). Other semi-final saw National Shaheen Academy edge past Young Ittehad Academy 1-0 thanks to a goal from Babar. The 3rd place game then saw Khyber Muslim Academy beat Young Ittehad Academy 1-0 thanks to a Shehryar goal.
The final was a tense affair as National Shaheen caused a major upset in penalty shoot-out against favourites KUFF North Nazimabad 4-3 to be crowned champions after 0-0 draw.
Khyber Muslim’s Muhammad Bilal was given Best Player award, KUFF North Nazimabad’s Ali Raza got Top Scorer award, and National Shaheen Academy’s Sana Ullah got Best Goalkeeper award. The tournament saw KUFF administrator, organiser, and noted football journalist Riaz Ahmed as chief guest who distributed the prizes and spoke at the occasion.
Riaz Ahmed was pleased with the progress the DOSTI Playing For Peace U16 Futsal event has made to bring around new football talent across Karachi and hoped that such finds can become competitive players nationwide as a result of the efforts shown by Karachi United Football Foundation, the participating teams, and the support of British Council. All teams and players got special designed kits for free. Riaz Ahmed spoke about KUFF soon establishing a Baldia Town centre soon at the newly made Baldia Town Stadium with help from DFA West Karachi where local U14 players shall be provided good coaching from qualified coaches regularly with access to top facilities.
Also present at the occasion were KUFF head coach Arshad Jamal, as well as officials from DFA West etc.