PIA F.C.

Last updated
Pakistan Airlines
Pakistan Intl Airlines logo.png
Full namePakistan Airlines Football Club
Nickname(s)The Airliners
Short namePIA
Founded1958;66 years ago (1958)
Dissolved2021;3 years ago (2021)
GroundKorangi Baloch Stadium
Capacity5,000 [1]
Owner Pakistan International Airlines

Pakistan International Airlines Football Club, abbreviated as PIA F.C., served as the football section of Pakistan International Airlines. Based in Karachi, Sindh, the club used to compete in the National Football Championship and Pakistan Premier League.

Contents

The club is the most successful club in Pakistan in terms of league titles, winning nine National Football Championship titles, with their first league title in 1971 and their last title win in the 1998–99 season.

History

National Football Championship dominance (1971–1991)

PIA team which participated in the Aga Khan Gold Cup in 1970 PIA football team 1970.jpg
PIA team which participated in the Aga Khan Gold Cup in 1970

The club was founded in 1958, to represent Pakistan International Airlines in the Inter-Departmental League. [2] From the 1970s until the 1990s, the club dominated the National Football Championship. [3] Their first National Football Championship title came in 1971 when they defeated Karachi in the finals. The club successfully defended their title in 1972 when they held off Peshawar White. Their third title came in the first of the two 1975 seasons, defeating provincial side Punjab A. In 1976 they retained their title, holding off a challenge from Pakistan Railways. [4] Pakistan Airlines were defending champions in 1978, after there being no football 1977 due to martial law, but they continued to dominate Pakistani football and beat Sindh Red to take the championship for a fifth time. [4]

They defeated Pakistan Air Force in 1981 to win their sixth title. They had to wait eight years for their next title win, Sindh Government Press were the team beaten in 1989. [4]

In the season of 1992–93, they won their eighth title, when they defeated Pakistan Army in the Lifebuoy Soap sponsored league structured National Football Championship. Pakistan Airlines lost their dominance until the end of the 1990s, winning their last of 9 national championships in 1997, fighting off tough competition from Allied Bank in the final. [5]

Pakistan Premier League era (2007–2019)

PIA failed to enter the newly formed Pakistan Premier League from 2004 to 2006 as after the PFF President Cup held in Quetta in 2003, the team was disbanded. [6]

The club was added into 2007–08 Pakistan Premier League, as the league expanded from 12 to 14 teams. In their first season, the club finished at sixth position. The club competed in 2008 National Football Challenge Cup but finished third in their group and failed to qualify.

In the 2008–09 season, the club dropped two places and finished eighth, although the club performed well in the 2009 National Football Challenge Cup, as they finished runners up to Khan Research Laboratories, losing 1–0 in the final. In 2011–12 Pakistan Premier League, the club recorded their biggest defeat when they lost 4–0 to Khan Research Laboratories at home.

The club finished their highest position in Pakistan Premier League when they finished fourth in the 2014–15 Pakistan Premier League and were runners-up in 2015 NBP National Challenge Cup, losing again to Khan Research Laboratories. In 2018–19 season, they were eliminated in 2018 National Challenge Cup group stages and withdrew from league due to financial issues, and were relegated. [7]

Disbandment

The club was closed after the shutdown of departmental sports in Pakistan in September 2021. [8] [9] [10]

Honours

Domestic

Performance in AFC competitions

1986: Qualifying Stage
1991: Qualifying Stage
1992/93: Withdrew in First Round
1998/99: Withdrew in First Round

Notable players

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References

  1. ↑ "Pakistan International Airlines FC football club information at Football Ground Map".
  2. ↑ "Pakistan – Foundation Dates of Clubs". rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  3. ↑ Ahsan, Ali (December 23, 2010). "A history of football in Pakistan — Part II". DAWN News. DAWN. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 "Pakistan – List of Champions". rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  5. ↑ Ahsan, Ali (December 23, 2010). "A history of football in Pakistan — Part III". DAWN News. DAWN. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  6. ↑ "PIA to revive football team". Brecorder. 2007-05-12. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  7. ↑ "The balance sheet". thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  8. ↑ "Department players, officials remain apprehensive". thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  9. ↑ "Footballers plan protest to get departmental teams back". thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  10. ↑ "Pakistan Premier Football League must be held now, demand officials". thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
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