K-Electric new PPFL champions

KARACHI: Mohammad Essa and Oludeyi Abayomi Sunday hit one goal apiece as K-Electric emerged as the champions for the first time with a 2-0 victory over former winners Army in the Pakistan Premier Football League here at Korangi Baloch Football Ground in Sharafi Goth on Friday.
Skipper Essa put K-Electric ahead in the 14th minute with a solo effort before Oludeyi doubled it four minutes later.
With the achievement, K-Electric also made it to the AFC Cup qualifying play-off.
Earlier, the national champions of the AFC’s emerging countries used to play in the continent’s third-tier club championship which was called the AFC President’s Cup. But the event was abolished last year.
A top official of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) told ‘The News’ that a meeting of the AFC would be held in Kuala Lumpur on February 10, in which a decision would be made about the club championship and its format.
The venue was heavily guarded by the armed forces because of the presence of Army’s team. In front of around 1,500 spectators, both sides played with speed.
K-Electric showed splendid skills in the deep to block a few nasty rallies from the soldiers. Discarded international gloveman Ghulam Nabi played a key role in K-Electric’s win as he made a couple of diving saves in the high-voltage encounter.
He also injured his head when it crashed the post while diving to save a goal.
The win took K-Electric to 47 points with two games yet in hand.
K-Electric’s captain Mohammad Essa said it was a historic achievement. “It is really a historic win,” the jubilant Essa said after spearheading his side to a much-needed triumph.
“We have been playing fine football for the last four years. And it was due to team work that finally we won the event,” said Essa, a former Pakistan captain.
He also gave credit to the whole management of his side. “Every member of our management worked hard. They hired two foreign players for the season who put a new life in our experienced side,” Essa said.
“It is the first ever title which K-Electric have won. It makes me extremely happy. There was huge pressure on us but we kept our cool, went ahead consistently and that worked,” said the play-maker, who led the team by example.
Essa said they would prepare adequately for the AFC event. “It will really be a more competitive event and we will need at least one-month training besides a few friendlies,” said Essa, who retired from international football during the SAFF Cup in Dhaka five years ago when Austria’s George Kottan was Pakistan’s coach.
K-Electric’s Sports Manager Zabe Khan said the whole management of his department supported the team.
“It was because of the support of the whole management that we won the league. Wilson’s hiring made the difference and we will invite both the Nigerians for the AFC event as well,” he said.
He also praised star striker Mohammad Rasool. “Rasool was amazing as he hit 22 goals. Trainer Imran did a tidy job in the entire season,” he said.
K-Electric’s assistant coach Akbar Ali said the start was not good but then the team gained confidence which paid off.
K-Electric, who had ended as the runners-up in the last two editions, played the season with two Nigerians Oludeyi and Wilson Segun who performed well. “I am very glad to be part of the champions’ team,” the defensive midfielder Wilson said. “I am happy with the way I played in the entire league. But still I will need to do more hard work in future,” he said.
Oludeyi Sunday said it was a competitive league. “It was a very competitive league this season. I had told you that no one could stop us from winning the title and today we showed that,” the nimble-footed Oludeyi added.
Oludeyi, who hit 11 goals in the season, showed a lot of character to play some matches despite injury. “I played in some matches despite injury because we were going well and I did not want to let down the team at any stage,” said Oludeyi, who also represented K-Electric last season.
WAPDA and KRL have won the league four times each. Army have done so twice. WAPDA’s triumphs came in 2004-05, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2010-11. KRL wore the crown in 2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14. Army emerged champions in 2005-06 and 2006-07. Pakistan coach Mohammad Shamlan also witnessed the match.