PESHAWAR: Ex-MNA Haji Baz Gul Afridi Thursday said a team comprising players from six-Frontier Regions and Afghanistan with the name of Ghazi Ajab Khan Afridi, a great warrior, will participate in the forthcoming First FATA Super Football League carrying a prize money of Rs. 2 million to be starting from September 19, 2017 at Qayyum Sports Complex.
Addressing a press conference, Haji Baz Gul Afridi, who also remained as leader of the FATA parliamentarians in National Assembly, appreciated President FATA Olympic Association and former international footballer Shahid Khan Shinwari for organizing the event wherein top 16 teams will be taking part. President FATA Olympic Association Shahid Khan Shinwari, Chief Executive of the NGK and KYB Auto Mobil Companies Middle East and Japan Mudassir Khan, President FATA Athletic Association Engr. Saif Ul Islam, international athlete and manager of Ajab Khan Afridi team Noor Aslam Afridi were also present on this occasion. Ex-MNA Haji Baz Gul Afridi said Ghazi Ajab Khan Afridi team will have players from all six FRs and out of the total 16 players seven players will be invited for the team from Afghanistan.
Two international players will be joined the team from Chaman, Quetta, which is considered as hub of the football in the country while the rest players will be selected from around six-FR in order to involve the FATA players in healthy activities. Shahid Khan Shinwari on this occasion said that Bridges Stone Tyres will be providing complete uniform and kits for the 16 teams of worth Rs. 1 million while CEO of NGK and KYB Auto Mobil Company will sponsoring the League by giving Rs. 1 million cash prize. He said Rs. 0.5 million will be given to the winners, Rs. 0.3 million to the runners-up team, 50,000 for the best player of the League, Rs. 50,000 for the best team and Rs. 50,000 for the fair play winner team. He said the unveiling ceremony of the trophy, team uniform of the FATA Super Football League will be organized in Islamabad and Head of the Bridges Stone Tyres Japan Mr. Suguru Takeuchi (Jimmy) will be coming to Pakistan to unveil the grand trophy in a grand ceremony.
The League will carry a record prize money of Rs. 2 million, Shahid added. The owners of the all the sixteen teams, players would participate in that ceremony in Islamabad. He said besides 16 teams, team manager, assistant team manager, team coach and assistant team coach will be the officials to be part of the overall team and will be given proper uniform.He said talks have been continued with the Governor KP Zafar Iqbal Jhargra. Former Governor Engr. Shoukat Ullah, who is also Chief Patron of the FATA Olympic Association, has nominated as Chairman Organizing Committee. He said during the unveiling ceremony invitations would be given to Prime Minister of Pakistan, who is a very keen sports lover, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, President of Pakistan, FATA Parliamentarians, legendary cricketer-turn-politician Imran Khan, President Pakistan Olympic Association Lt. Gen (Retd) Arif Hassan, former Sport Minister KP Syed Aqil Shah, Chief Minister KP Pervez Khan, squash legends Qamar Zaman, Jehangir Khan, Jansher Khan, leading sports persons from the sports circles, FATA Elders, Political Agents from various Agencies all across FATA. The League will played at Qayyum Sports Complex with some of its matches will be played at North Waziristan Agency, Khyber Agency, Bajaur Agency. He said all the sixteen teams will be divided in four groups and two teams each will moved to the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and final.– APP
