Karachi Football League

Last updated
Karachi Football League
کراچی فٹ بال لیگ
Founded1962;62 years ago (1962)
(restarted in 2003;21 years ago (2003))
CountryPakistan
Number of teams20
Most championshipsBurma Mohammedan
Shahzad Mohammedan (2 titles) [1]

The Karachi Football League is a city based football league held in Karachi, in Pakistan's Sindh province. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

History

On a few known occasions, city league championships were played in Pakistan in Lahore stretching back to 1937 before the independence of Pakistan. [5] A league was organized in Karachi in 1962 as KDFA League, by the Karachi Division Football Association between 20 participants throughout the city. [6] Baloch XI from Lyari ultimately won the title after finishing at the top with 33 points. [6]

It wasn't until 2003 when the second edition of the league was held again, this time organised by Karachi United and sponsored by KASB Bank as the KASB Premier League. [7] From 2003 until 2008, 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 became the consequent league sponsor.

The league although regional and semi-professional, it has been compared to the top flight Pakistan Premier League, which has a dominance of department and armed forces teams, which have resulted in poor attendances, with the best supported teams being the Balochistan clubs Afghan FC Chaman, Baloch Nushki and Muslim FC. [8] In stark contrast, the Karachi Football League, despite being a third level division, routinely attracts healthy audiences with the highlight being the 2008–09 final between Shahzad Mohammadan and Nazimabad FC where a huge crowd of over 18,000 witnessed proceedings at the KMC Stadium. [8]

Format

In 2003, the 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 and 2008 seasons. In the 2008 season, the league expanded to 16 clubs, with the top eight clubs competing in a playoff. [9] In 2014 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. [10]

Winners

See also

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References

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