Geo Super Football League

Last updated
Geo Super League
GeoLeague.jpg
Organising body Pakistan Football Federation
Founded2007
First season2007
Folded2010
Country Pakistan
Confederation AFC
Number of teams5
Last championsKarachi Energy
(2010)
Most championshipsIslamabad United
Karachi Energy
TV partners GEO Super
Website Geo SFL official site

The Geo Super Football League or SFL was the first professional inter-city football league of Pakistan, with support of the Pakistan Football Federation. It was established in 2007 and telecasted live via GEO Super. The SFL ran separate to the Pakistan Premier League. The league did not continue because the organisers and sponsors reportedly did not want to work with the Pakistan Football Federation again. [1]

Contents

In the first two seasons all matches were played in Karachi's Peoples Football Stadium. [2]

History

Geo TV Network and the Pakistan Football Federation came together in 2006 and began work on establishing Pakistan's first national inter-city football league to be televised on GEO Super. [3] The Geo Super Football League (SFL) was created as a way to fuse Pakistan's football talent and to further develop football in the country.

The teams were privately owned and non departmental, they representing Pakistan's major cities. [2] Aspiring stars were selected after a gruelling nationwide scouting actions. Over a hundred matches were held in all the locations in varying weather conditions. Each player was given an ample chance to prove through these matches, which revealed ability to perform.

The league gave live coverage to domestic footballers for the first time. The league attracted large crowds and good level of play was on display for a nationwide audience. However, with a lack of long term support from Pakistan Football Federation, the league was discontinued until summer 2010, when K-Electric stepped in to support the venture with another SFL season. and merited a second attempt in 2010 [3] However, the league did not continue because the organisers and sponsors reportedly did not want to work with the Pakistan Football Federation again. The reason was largely because Geo Super conducted it purely for commercial reasons, while the Pakistan Football Federation failed to cash in on it for the long term betterment of football in the country. [3]

Training camps

Thirty players for each of the five teams were tested for their football skills, as well as mental and physical toughness. Individual and team drills with conditioning were the main focus of the training camps, to prepare the teams for their first ever national exposure. [4]

Teams

The league was made up of five teams, representatives of different cities. Each team was composed of national and international players. For the first time the best players of the nation came together under the umbrella of these five cities for the inter-city football league. The names of the teams were the following: [5] [4]

Records & statistics

Top scorer

Best player

Results

YearHostWinnerScoreRunners-upLosing semifinalists
(no third place match)
2007
Details
Karachi
Islamabad United
0–0
(a.e.t.)
(4–3 pens.)

Karachi Bazigar
Quetta Zorawar
Lahore Lajpaals F.C.
2010
Details
Karachi
Karachi Energy
1–0
Quetta Zorawar
Islamabad United
Lahore Lajpaals F.C.

See also

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References

  1. Sohail, Shahrukh (2020-08-09). "FOOTBALL: A LEAGUE FOR PAKISTAN FOOTBALL". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  2. 1 2 Ahsan, Ali (2011-02-02). "A history of football in Pakistan — Final part". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  3. 1 2 3 Ahsan, Ali (2012-11-13). "Time to scrap the premier league?". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  4. 1 2 "Super Football League: PFF announces trial schedule". DAWN.COM. 2010-05-16. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  5. "Pakistan - Foundation Dates of Clubs". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-04-30.