Geo Super Football League

Geo Super League
Organising bodyPakistan Football Federation
Founded2007
First season2007
Folded2010
CountryPakistan
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams5
Last championsKarachi Energy
(2010)
Most championshipsIslamabad United
Karachi Energy
TV partnersGEO Super
WebsiteGeo 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]

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.[1][3] However, the league did not continue because the organisers and sponsors reportedly did not want to work with the Pakistan Football Federation again.[1] 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:[4]

  • Tribe F.C. Peshawar
  • Islamabad United
  • Lahore Lajpaals F.C.
  • Quetta Zorawar
  • Karachi Bazigar

Records & statistics

  • First match: Karachi Bazigars v Lahore Lajpaals (20 July 2007)
  • Biggest winning margin: 4 goals
    • Lahore Lajpaals 4–0 Tribe FC Peshawar (16 August 2007)
  • Most wins in a season: 6 matches – Lahore Lajpaals
  • Most losses in a season: 6 matches – Tribe FC Peshawar
  • Most goals in a match: 6 goals
    • Karachi Energy 4–2 Islamabad United (28 July 2010)
  • Most goals in a match by a single player: 3 goals – Mohammad Shoaib (Lahore Lajpaals)
    • Lahore Lajpaals 4–0 Tribe FC Peshawar (16 August 2007)
  • Most goals in a season by a single player: 8 goals
    • Mohammad Shoaib (Lahore Lajpaals)
    • Haroon Arshad (Lahore Lajpaals)
  • Most goals scored by a team in a season: 15 goals – Lahore Lajaals
  • Fewest goals scored by a team in a season: 2 goals – Tribe FC Peshawar
  • Most goals conceded by a team in a season: 16 goals – Tribe FC Peshawar
  • Fewest goals conceded by a team in a season: 5 goals – Karachi Bazigars
  • Player of the season: Haroon Arshad – 2007 and 2010

Top scorer

Best player

Results

Year Host Winner Score Runners-up Losing 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

References

  1. ^ a b c Staff, Editorial (2020-08-09). "Football: A league for Pakistan [Dawn]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  2. ^ a b Ahsan, Ali (2011-02-02). "A history of football in Pakistan — Final part". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  3. ^ a b c Ahsan, Ali (2012-11-13). "Time to scrap the premier league?". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  4. ^ a b "Super Football League: PFF announces trial schedule". DAWN.COM. 2010-05-16. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  5. ^ Staff, Editorial (2010-09-26). "KESC sign SFL star Muhammad Riaz". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2024-03-02.

External links

  • Geo Super Football League official site
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