Karachi Football League
The Karachi Football League is a semi-professional football league based in Karachi in Sindh province and is on tier four 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.
Founded | 2003 |
---|---|
First season | 2003 |
Country | |
Confederation | AFC |
Number of teams | 20 |
Level on pyramid | 4th |
Promotion to | National Club Championship |
Current champions | Mauripur Baloch (2016-17) |
Most championships | Burma Mohammaden (2 titles)[1] |
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: Hyderi Baloch Club[8]
- 2004–05: Lyari Labour Welfare Centre[9]
- 2005–06: Young Ansari[10]
- 2006–07: Karachi United[11]
- 2007–08: Shahzad Mohammaden[12]
- 2008-09: Keamari Mohammaden[13]
- 2009–10:
- 2010–11: Baloch Youth Garden[14]
- 2011–12: Burma Mohammedan[15]
- 2012-13:
- 2013-14:
- 2014-15: Burma Mohammedan
- 2015-16:
- 2016-17:
References
- "Karachi Football League". The Nation (Pakistan). 2 November 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- "Karachi Football League". Dawn. 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.
- "KASB Premier League (Karachi) 2003". RSSSF. 7 February 2004. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- "Pakistan (Other Tournaments) 2004". RSSSF. 16 February 2005. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- "Pakistan (Other Tournaments) 2005". RSSSF. 6 October 2006. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- "Pakistan (Other Tournaments) 2006". RSSSF. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- "Pakistan (Other Tournaments) 2007". RSSSF. 28 March 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- "Pakistan (Other Tournaments) 2008". RSSSF. 23 April 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- "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/