7th under-16 football championship held in Lahore

7th under-16 football championship organised by the Pakistan Football Federation to explore the new and young talent concluded in Lahore on July 27.

16 teams which participated in the tournament were Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, NWFP, Wahaib Club Lahore, Peshawar Blue, Karachi Yellow, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Faisalabad Athleto, Faisalabad White, Afghan Club Chamman, FATA, Baloch Club Noshki, Islamabad and the Northern Areas continued from July 16 to 27. Faisalabad White won the title by beating Karachi Yellow in the final match by one zero held at Punjab Stadium, Lahore.

Punjab Minister for Human Rights Kamran Micheal was chief guest of the concluding ceremony. He distributed cash prizes among the top players. Wining team got Rs50, 000; runner-up got Rs 30, 000 and third best team got Rs 20, 000. He appreciated the players and suggested them to work hard for the future. He said, “Sports activities are important for the youngsters as they keep them fit and abstain them from bad things like drugs”.

The tournament continued for twelve days and there were some amazing results in the group matches. Defending champion Punjab was defeated in the quarterfinal by the FATA. Pakistan Football Federation Secretary Ahmad Yar Lodhi on the occasion said, “The purpose of the tournament was to explore new talent for the upcoming Asian Football championship.” He said young players are real asset of Pakistan.

Lodhi said, “Teams of terrorism affected areas especially Peshawer, FATA, NWFP played very well. Their players have the ability to become national players”. Football is very popular game in those areas. Their players showed good stamina and sportsmanship. He said that Pakistan Football federation will give them priority.

Organising secretary of the tournament said that players and the management of all the teams were very cooperative and the whole tournament was the fantastic. He said the tournament was the best opportunity for the youngsters to show their talent. Asif 15, a Faisalabad White player declared the best player of the tournament. He said that he enjoyed a lot during this contest. He said such activities were very encouraging for the new players.