KESC continue to dominate in PPFL [Tribune]

Sports Correspondent – Express Tribune

KARACHI: KESC continued their winning-streak in the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) as they defeated Navy 1-0 at the KPT Stadium in Karachi yesterday.

Navy contained last year’s PPFL runners-up in the first-half, but KESC’s new striker Aurangzeb Baba scored the winner in the 57th minute of the match.

KESC coach Akbar Ali said his team was playing well, but needed to utilise all of its chances and score more goals.

“The team is still missing out on opportunities,” Ali told The Express Tribune. “We are in form and have found rhythm, but I need to tell them to start capitalising on chances.

“However, I’m happy with the new players, and amongst the three transfers we have had this season, Noor Muhammad is especially good.”

Ali stated that a cause for concern was the delay from the interior ministry of Pakistan in approving the No-Objection Certificate for a Nigerian striker that KESC had roped in for the season.

“We’ve already played six matches without him, bringing him to Pakistan after 10 or 12 matches will be useless for us. By then the season could be out of our hands.

“The government authorities should hurry up or else we will be missing out on a good striker who can possibly help us win the title this year.”

With the win yesterday, KESC claimed top spot with 14 points after playing six matches, while Navy stand in eighth position with four points.

In today’s fixtures, Afghan FC from Chaman and Baloch FC from Noushki will begin their PPFL campaign at the KPT stadium in Karachi. Meanwhile four-time champions Wapda and two-time champions Army will lock horns in Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2013.