PIA defeated to WAPDA (B) 4-2

Sargodah – Pakistan, Mar 19, 2014: PIA, Pakistan International Airlines defeated WAPDA (B) 4-2 to emerge Champion of the First edition of Brigadier ® Manzoor Hussain Atif Memorial Hockey Tournament at the packed Sargodha Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.

According to the PHF press release final started at the newly laid Astroturf at the Stadium which was packed to capacity. The crowd cheered every good move made by the players. They even enjoyed few small skirmishes amongst the players. PIA got an early penalty corner in the initial minutes of the first half. But WAPDA’s goalkeeper bravely stopped the ferocious hit on his chest to save the goal. After that PIA’s forwards exerted pressure and made some aggressive moves. They earned second penalty corner in the 14th minute which their full back Ihsanullah converted to register PIA’s first goal.

WAPDA launched a massive counter attack in the 19th minute and reached into the PIA’s D where goalkeeper’s timely dash frustrated their attempt. In the meantime PIA got another penalty corner in the 21st minute and Mohammed Zubair made no mistake to score the second goal on an indirect pass which consolidated his team’s position.

After trailing by two goals WAPDA launched a massive counter attack in the 23rd minute and their forward reached into the D where goalkeeper’s daring dash frustrated their attempt. Their forwards bounced back fiercely in the 27th minute and Forward Ateeq beat the defenders to score the first goal for his team. WAPDA applied more pressure with the combination of right-left attacks and earned a penalty corner in the 34th minute which was successfully converted by Waseem to level the score 2-2 at the half time.

WAPDA forwards relied on counter-attacks in the second half but they failed to trouble the Airliners. They also missed at least one clear chance to reduce the margin in the 56th minute while their defenders also made irreparable blunders to allow PIA to score two more goals. In the 43rd minute Ihsanullah scored the third goal for PIA, his second, to earn 3-2 lead and Mohammed Irfan scored the fourth goal in the 67th minute.

After the match Pakistan Hockey Federation Secretary Rana Mujahid Ali gave away the winning trophy to PIA’s Captain Aamir Shahzad. The District Coordination Officer Tariq Mahmood and MNA Ch. Abdul Hamid, parliamentary secretary Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs and MPA Dr. Nadia Aziz also gave away prizes to the players and officials of the organizing committee.

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced a prize of Rs. 100,000 for the District Hockey Association, Sargodha for the successful holding of the First Brigadier ® Manzoor Hussain Atif Memorial Hockey Tournament in the city.

Talking as chief guest on the occasion of the final of the Tournament the PHF Secretary Rana Mujahid Ali made this announcement. He paid rich tribute to the district hockey association for making excellent arrangements and extending their kind hospitality to the guest teams throughout the Tournament. He appreciated the efforts of Fiaz Ahmed Hinjra, organizing secretary of the Tournament for his dedication and hard work which ensured the successful organization of the Tournament.

He also praised Tournament Director former Olympian Shafqat Malik for making the smooth holding of matches in the middle. The PHF secretary also thanked the local administration headed by District Coordination Officer Tariq Mahmood and his team for facilitating the teams and officials during their stay in the city of Shaheens.

Result of the Final of the First Brigadier ® Manzoor Hussain Atif Memorial Hockey Tournament at the Sargodha Hockey Stadium.

FINAL

PIA Beat WAPDA (B)

4 : 2 (Full Time)

2 : 2 (Half Time)

PIA: Ihsanullah 14th & 43rd minutes (PC), Mohammed Zubair 21st minute (PC), Mohammed Irfan 67th minute (PC).

WAPDA (B): Ateeq 27th minute (FG), Waseem 34th (PC).