Karachi Football League
Country | Pakistan |
---|---|
Confederation | AFC |
Number of teams | 20 |
Promotion to | D Division |
Most championships | Shahzad Mohammedan (3 times)[1] |
TV partners | Ten Sports Pakistan |
The Karachi Football League is a semi-professional football league based in Karachi in Sindh province and is on tier-one of the Pakistan football league system.[2][3] It is currently the most popular football league in Pakistan and the country's most popular sports league after the PSL. Karachi United are the league's most popular club.[4] In 2015, the final standings were 1) Burma Mohammedan, 2) Korangi Baloch Sharafi, 3) Salar Welfare Centre. The 40,000-capacity[5] Peoples Football Stadium in Karachi is used for some major games.
History
The Karachi Football League was created by Karachi United and began its inaugural season in 2003-04 as the "All Karachi Clubs League". From 2003-04 until 2008-09, the league was sponsored by "KASB Group of Companies" which was the Title Sponsor of the event for the first six editions. Coca-Cola Pakistan is now the league sponsor.
Format
In 2003-04, the inaugural season saw 10 clubs competing on a single league basis with the famous Lyari based Hyderi Baluch crowned as champions. In the first five seasons, five different clubs won the championship until Shazad Muhammadan won back-to-back titles in 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons. In the 2008-09 season, the league expanded to 16 clubs, with the top eight clubs competing in a playoff.[6] In 2014-15 season, 20 teams were divided into two groups. After league matches, top four teams from each group progressed into the round-robin Super League phase. The top four teams of the Super League phase then made it to the semi-finals.[7]
Teams
Group A
- Karachi United
- Baloch Mujahid
- Salar Welfare Centre
- Khyber Muslim
- Burma Mohammedan
- Maymar Sports
- Islah Baloch
- FC Rovers
- Young Azizabad
- Irfan Memorial Landhi
Group B
- Azam Sports
- Korangi Baloch Sharafi
- Baloch Youth Malir
- Jam XI Malir
- Maripur Green
- Aga Khan Gymkhana
- Usmanabad Union
- Gulistan Friends Korangi
- Malik Star
- Wasif Memorial
Winners
- 2003-04:
- 2004–05:
- 2005–06:
- 2006–07:
- 2007–08:
- 2008-09:
- 2009–10:
- 2010–11: Baloch Youth Malir[8]
- 2011–12: Burma Mohammedan, runners-up: Karachi United[9]
- 2012-13:
- 2013-14:
- 2014-15: Burma Mohammedan
- 2015-16:
- 2016-17:
See also
References
- ↑ "Karachi Football League". The Nation (Pakistan). 2 November 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ↑ "Karachi Football League". Dawn (newspaper). 26 November 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ↑ "Azam Sports hammer Azad XI in I am Karachi Football League". The News International. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ↑ http://kufootballfoundation.org/
- ↑ https://thekarachiwalla.com/2011/12/08/city-landmarks-peoples-stadium-lyari/
- ↑ http://kufootballfoundation.org/
- ↑ "'I am Karachi' Football hopes to beat violence in the city". ARY News. 30 December 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ↑ "Karachi Football League". The Nation (Pakistan). 15 November 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ↑ http://www.footballpakistan.com/2012/05/burma-mohammadan-crowned-karachi-football-league-champions/