Lahore defeated Karachi on penalty kicks by 2-1 score to clinch the Leisure Leagues Six-a-Side Football National Championship title, which earned them a prized ticket to Greece, where they will get a chance to represent Pakistan in the second Socca World Cup. In an electrifying final, Punjab champions Lahore defeated Sindh champions Karachi on penalty kicks after regulation time ended in a goalless draw. Earlier, Lahore defeated Balochistan champions Gwadar team by 1-0 while Karachi overpowered KPK champions Peshawar by 2-0 score to qualify for the final.
The national finals were played at People's Stadium in Karachi on Sunday night and concluded with a colorful closing ceremony. DG Rangers Sindh Major General Omar Ahmed Bukhari was the chief guest at the occasion. He also awarded cash prizes of Rs 200,000 among the participating teams. Lahore cashed Rs 100,000 while Karachi received Rs 50,000. Gwadar and Peshawar received Rs 25,000 each.
Amongst other notable guests present on the occasion were World Group Global Patron in Chief Mohammad Mian Soomro, Chairman World Group Mehmood Trunkwala, Major General (R) Haroon Sikandar Pasha, Lord Syed Shahzad Ali, President World Group Shahzaib Trunkwala, Chief Operating Officer World Group Anas Trunkwala and Chief Operating Officer Leisure Leagues Ishaq Shah.
One team from each province qualified for the national championship. The four teams that qualified for the national finals nearly bested 800 teams from across the country.
Lahore has retained the title of the Leisure Leagues National Championship since Lahore also won the inaugural edition last year and represented Pakistan in the first Socca World Cup in Portugal, which was hosted by International Socca Federation (ISF). The tournament this year will be held in Crete, Greece from scheduled in October (12 to 20).
Participating players praised Leisure Leagues for organizing the small-sided football across the country. World Group, through its initiative of Leisure Leagues, has provided equal opportunity to everyone across the country to play the beautiful game of football and if they are very good at playing football then they can go all the way up to represent Pakistan in a global tournament.
Leisure Leagues, which is a British company headquartered based in Birmingham, will also provide opportunity to other Pakistan footballers as well to become a part of the Pakistan socca squad by organizing trials in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.