Karachi Football League

Karachi Football League
کراچی فٹ بال لیگ
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 Pakistan Super League. 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 Garden FC[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

  1. ↑ "Karachi Football League". The Nation (Pakistan). 2 November 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  2. ↑ "Karachi Football League". Dawn. 26 November 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  3. ↑ "Azam Sports hammer Azad XI in I am Karachi Football League". The News International. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  4. ↑ http://kufootballfoundation.org/
  5. ↑ https://thekarachiwalla.com/2011/12/08/city-landmarks-peoples-stadium-lyari/
  6. ↑ http://kufootballfoundation.org/
  7. ↑ "'I am Karachi' Football hopes to beat violence in the city". ARY News. 30 December 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  8. ↑ "Karachi Football League". The Nation (Pakistan). 15 November 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  9. ↑ http://www.footballpakistan.com/2012/05/burma-mohammadan-crowned-karachi-football-league-champions/
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