Shinwari FC lift FATA Football Super League 2017 trophy

First minute goal from Riaz Ahmad of Shinwari FC set the tempo of the final match of FATA Football Super League-2017 against Khyber Eagle. Shinwari FC took the lead through unmarked Riaz Ahmad on the field attempt. It was through the ball given by team skipper Atiq Shinwari to Riaz Ahmad who did nothing wrong in dispatching it into the goal-post to make the tally 1-0.

Some fine opportunities were created by Khyber Eagle strikers as their forward players Mansoor, Muhammad Mujahid, Samad Khan, Sohail Khan and Irfan played some good attacking game which resulted in no less than four goal-scoring chances but failed to utilize any of them. Eagle’s players tried their best to equalize the goal but the defenders of Shinwari FC didn’t allow them to score any goal before the end of 1st half.

The front line of Shiwnari FC comprising Awais, Atiq, Izhar, Riaz, Yasir and Rasool played well and put in more pressure to double the lead but they failed due to spectacular goal-keeping by Khyber Eagle goal-keeper Ghazanfar. In the dying moments of the first half, Shinwari FC Jamrud Khyber Agency scored another goal through penalty kick which doubled the lead. Alamgir netted a fine goal to make the tally 2-0. Yasir, the center striker, was wrongly intercepted by Khyber Eagle goal-keeper Ghazanfar and referee signaled the spot in favour of Shinwari FC. This final match was supervised by Arshad, a FIFA referee, while Amin Khan, Allowddin acted as deputy referee and Qazi Asif acted as Match Commissioner.

After taking 2-0 lead, Shinwari FC fully controlled the whole trend of the ball position and did not give much chance to Khyber Eagle to strike back.

Political Agent Khyber Captain (Retd) Khalid Mehmood was the chief guest on this occasion. Member National Assembly Engr. Hamid Ul Haq, Former Sports Minister Syed Aqil Shah, former Health Minister and former Vice President Pakistan Football Federation Syed Zahir Ali Shah, former squash World No. 2 Mohib Ullah Khan, Secretary General AIPs Asia Amjad Aziz Malik, Vice President Cantonment Board Peshawar Malik Waris, Elders from the tribal areas, Director PSB Coaching Center Peshawar Sports Mumtaz Ahmad Nadeem, and large number of spectators were also present on this occasion.

The final was all Khyber match as both the teams belongs to the Khyber Region. Landikotal’s Shinwari FC finally lifts the cup by defeating Khyber Eagles by 2-0. Riaz, who’s also playing for Pakistan National football teams scores the 1st goal for Shinwari FC in the very first minute of the 1st half and takes the lead for his team.

It is also to be mention here that a 20 member team will also be selected from among the 12 teams which participated in the event. That team will represent FATA and Pakistan in Malaysia and Indonesia which will help boosting the football in FATA and Pakistan.

Pakistan’s current and former players, including Yasir Afridi, Mohammad Rasool, Mohammad Riaz, Mehmood Khan and Jadeed Pathan were also the participants of the event. International players from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Afghanistan also participated in the FATA Football Super League.

At the end of the final, Political Agent Khyber, Khalid Mehmood gave away trophies and cash prizes of Rs. 0.5 million to the winning captain Atiq Shinwari and Rs. 0.3 million to the runners-up team. Saqib was declared as best goal-keeper and was awarded Rs. 25000/- cash, Samad and Mansoor were jointly declared best scorers as both scored four goal each were awarded Rs. 25000. Hamza was declared as the most emerging and best player of the tournament and was awarded Rs. 25000. Fair play trophy was awarded to Kurrama Shaheen of Kurram Agency.