Pakistan's Leisure Leagues squad crown ‘Fair Play’ Award in Socca World Cup 2018
Although Pakistan socca football team failed to make its presence felt in the International Socca Federation (ISF) World Cup in Lisbon, but the team from South Asia impressed the jury and received ‘Fair Play’ award in Socca World Cup 2018
While everyone seems to focus on the dark side of Pakistan's team failure to make its presence felt in the recently concluded International Socca Federation (ISF) World Cup in Lisbon, but the team from South Asia impressed the jury and received ‘Fair Play’ award in the inaugural tournament.
Pakistan was placed in Group ‘B’ along with world-class football playing nations of Europe – Spain, Russia and Moldova. Pakistan lost all of its group matches but the team won the hearts of the jury, who decided to award Team Pakistan with ‘Fair Play’ trophy.
Meanwhile, Germany overpowered Poland in the summit clash of the tournament by a 1-0 score to claim the title of the first ever World Cup of small-sided football.
“The exciting tournament has been highly successful and world will see more such tournaments happening throughout the globe,” ISF Vice President Shahzaib Trunkwala said.
He congratulated Germany for winning the inaugural tournament and also praised Poland for their brilliant show and reaching the summit clash of the tournament.
Meanwhile, he also praised Pakistan team for claiming the ‘Fair Play’ award despite the country lacks football infrastructure as compared to European nations.
“Winning a ‘Fair Play’ award by a country like Pakistan in the tournament where several European nations have also been playing is highly laudable. I hope Pakistan continues to play well and also win matches in future,” Trunkwala added.
Pakistan socca team coach Tariq Lutfi said that it had been a learning experience for the team and it would come better prepared in the next edition and would put stronger show then.
“Pressure of international games is different than playing at home and only results can’t be used to judge the standard of a team alone. The side would perform better in international events to come as they have now gained the experience of playing abroad,” he said.
As compared with neighboring India, which is ranked 102 places above Pakistan in the FIFA rankings, Pakistan completed the group matches with a negative 16 goal difference while India has a negative goal difference of 24 goals. Egypt, which is ranked 64th in the international circuit, ended the group matches with a goal difference of 25 goals.
Pakistan Socca Football Squad:
Afaq Ahmed (Captain), Hafiz Muhammad Waleed, Umer Javeed, Haider Ali, Saad Ali Khan, Zaid Mehmood, Aamir Iqbal Gondal, Abdul Hanan Javad, Zabi Ullah Warraich, Muhammad Zubair Adil (Lahore), Muhammad Alamgir (Peshawar), Muhammad Kashif (Quetta), Zafar Khan (Karachi), Sameer Ahmed (Street Child World Cup). Officials: Tariq Lutfi (Coach), Zabe Khan (Team Manager), Shehroze Rizvi (Assistant Manager), Mohammad Asif (Media Manager).
About Leisure Leagues:
Leisure Leagues, is a company of World Group, which is owned by The Trunkwala Family. It is the largest global organizer of 5, 6 and 7-a-side football events. Leisure Leagues has considerably large footprints, having organized leagues in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Leisure has also been operational in United States. Leisure Leagues set foot in Pakistan in 2016. Last year, Trunkwala Family brought former football super star Brazilian Ronaldinho and Friends – including former Manchester United stalwart Ryan Giggs, former England goalkeeper David James, Dutch star George Boateng, former French players Robert Pires and Nicolas Anelka and Portuguese player Luis Boa Morte. Two high-voltage matches were played in Lahore and Karachi when foreign players of other sports including cricket were reluctant to visit Pakistan due to security apprehensions. Leisure Leagues is now organizing different small-sided football events throughout Pakistan in more than a dozen cities. Leisure Leagues is also organizing small-sided football events in schools and colleges as well. Leisure Leagues has also played an important role in establishing International Socca Federation (ISF) and also played an important part in organizing first ever ISF World Cup in Portugal. Leisure Leagues has also established Pakistan Socca Team, which has participated in ISF Socca World Cup and has won ‘Fair Play’ award.
