Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has created history by organising the first National Women Football Championship in Islamabad. The final was played under floodlight in Islamabad's Jinnah Stadium on September 29.
Barring a minor incident of indiscipline, the final, played between the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) team and lowly-rated Punjab outfit was a treat to watch. It was the first occasion in the country's history that the women footballers were seen in action.
The final of the seven-day event, participated by eight teams, was telecast live by the Pakistan Television. This also created interest among young girls, who saw women footballers in traditional national dress - Shalwar-Qameez - playing like men.
Inaugurated by PFF President Faisal Saleh Hayat, the match was witnessed, among others, by the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Ehsan-ul-Haq; Director General, Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), Brigadier Arif Siddiqui, FIFA Assistant Development Officer Mohsin Gilani and member of the FIFA Committee for Women's Football and Women's Competitions, Philippines' Cristina Ramos.
Before the start of the match, the Wapda were hot favourites. The electricity women started the game aggressively and put the Punjab women under pressure. They were the first to settle down, but missed a real sitter in the eighth minute when the tournament's leading scorer Khalida Noor broke the offside trap.
Her drive went wide of the left post with Punjab keeper Sabiha at her mercy. Punjab team, under the coaching of World Cupper Hafeez Malik, foiled all attempts of Wapda women and concentrated on counter-attacks through Sheka, Razia and Tehreem but their efforts remained fruitless. It was 0-0 at interval.
The all-important goal materialised in the 53rd minute of the second session when left-winger Tehreem curled a tricky ball inside the Wapda's area from a free kick. Referee Ibrahim penalised an infringement in the Wapda's box and awarded penalty-kick to Punjab.
Right-winger Sheka took the kick straight to keeper Azra Matloob who failed to grip it. Sheka pounced on a rebound to steer the ball on the left corner, registering the historical triumph against Wapda 1-0.
Punjab skipper Kiran Illyas Ghouri became the first captain to lift the winning trophy. She also received prize money of Rs 200, 000, while the Wapda team skipper Munazza Nazeer received runner-up trophy and prize money of Rs 100,000.
Balochistan skipper Erum Mirza received the third place trophy and a prize money of Rs 50, 000, while the "Most Valuable Player" prize of Rs 25, 000 went to Islamabad's Munazzeh Shahid. Islamabad also got the Fairplay Trophy with Rs 10,000.
General Ehsan-ul-Haq, who was the chief guest at the final, awarded gold medals to the winning team, while the PFF President and FIFA's Mohsin Gilani handed over silver and bronze medals to the runners-up and third-place teams respectively.
INDISCIPLINE
After winning the championship, while Punjab team was celebrating the victory, the Wapda team players got infuriated and started hooting the winners. This led to verbal exchange of words, which soon converted into a scuffle. Players of both the teams freely kicked and punched each other. As a result, the organisers had to enter the ground to put an end to the tender sex brawl. The entire ugly incident was filmed by the PFF.
PFF President Faisal Saleh Hayat, who is very strict about discipline and sportsmanship, after watching the video, said the PFF would not spare those found violating the code of conduct and discipline. He said the PFF's own video of the incident proved that the scuffle broke out between the rivals after the final when Punjab tried to celebrate their victory. This enraged the losers, who attacked the winning team players.
The PFF President also endorsed the suspension of the Wapda's coach Qasim Raza and skipper Munazza Nazeer and leading scorer of the event Khalida Noor were barred from taking part in "all match activities" for two years.
BRONZE MEDAL ENCOUNTER In the match for third place, Balochistan beat Sindh to secure third place. In the keenly contested encounter, Balochistan steered third minute goal and kept it alive until the final whistle. Referee Dilawar Hussain penalised an infringement inside Sindh team's penalty area and pointed to the spot to Balochistan, which was cashed in on by skipper Erum Mirza.
PFF PLANS With the successful conclusion of the first National Women Football Championship, it seems the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) is seriously planning to promote the game of masses among the womenfolk as well. In the past, no one in the PFF could have dared taking such a bold step to allow women make inroads in the predominantly male domain, at least in this part of the world.
Interestingly, women were and are taking active part in various indoor and outdoor games, including hockey and cricket, but football was restricted only to school and college level. How can one expected from the former PFF authorities, who were not serious even about the men football and welfare of the players, to do something constructive for women football.
When PFF President Faisal Saleh Hayat announced holding of the first National Women Football Championship in Islamabad, the decision was widely hailed not only by sportswomen but also by sportsmen.
They opined that the PFF bosses had came out of long slumber and were planning not only to raise the standard of men's football, but had also realised the importance of women's role in sports.
They expressed the hope that the PFF would take revolutionary steps to promote football among women at grassroots level and activate its affiliated provincial, regional and district association to chalk out plans and organise tournaments.
To begin with, the PFF invited Indian women football team to play a three-match series, which generated much enthusiasm among women-footballers.
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