Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a distinctive football identity for Pakistan, with a strong focus on improving players' abilities, mastering the fundamentals of the game and strengthening the domestic football structure.The commitment was highlighted during a press conference held at a local hotel in Islamabad on Sunday morning, following Pakistan's historic participation in the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan.Addressing the media after the team's return, head coach Ehsanullah Khan said the primary objective of participating in the international event was to develop players' abilities, expose them to international football and provide opportunities to compete against teams representing different football cultures.He said the coaching staff had encouraged players to take the field without fear of defeat, express themselves confidently and concentrate on the basic principles of football.According to Ehsanullah Khan, successful football nations have exceptional command over the fundamentals of the game, and Pakistan's preparations were also focused on adopting the same approach. He expressed confidence that consistent efforts to strengthen these foundations could help Pakistan emerge among the leading football nations in the world.The head coach thanked PFF President Syed Mohsin Gilani and the federation for ensuring that young players did not miss this valuable learning opportunity. He also appreciated the support of parents who travelled to Azerbaijan to encourage their children.He further acknowledged the PFF president's personal encouragement of the players and his announcement of an additional cash reward of Rs. 25,000 for each member of the squad.Discussing areas requiring improvement, Ehsanullah Khan identified the practical execution of basic skills and defensive transitions as key aspects that needed further attention. He said addressing these shortcomings would require time, consistent training and more opportunities to participate in competitive football.PFF Technical Director Adeel Rizki said participation in the World Cup provided Pakistan with an important opportunity to assess its capabilities at the international level and understand the gap between the country's football standards and those of other competing nations.He clarified that results were secondary during the campaign, while the main objective was to enhance players' abilities and identify areas requiring further development.Responding to a question about the future of domestic football, Adeel Rizki stressed the need to reorganise the existing structure and establish a systematic development pathway from the grassroots level. He said the federation was focusing on identifying talented players at an early stage, providing them with proper training and ensuring that promising talent was not wasted due to a lack of opportunities.PFF Director Media and Communications Umaid Wasim, responding to a question about government support, said government-operated facilities were available for training activities. He also highlighted the provision of accommodation for participating teams and venues for matches during the domestic U-17 Championship.Sharing his experience of the international event, Pakistan U-15 player Ilhan Khan said he was extremely proud and happy to represent the country. He added that Pakistan performed well against strong opponents, including Jordan, and could have achieved a better position in the tournament by converting important scoring opportunities.Another squad member, Owais, also expressed gratitude to PFF President Syed Mohsin Gilani for his continued support and encouragement throughout the campaign.

Sports Reporter ISLAMABAD: Smurfs were crowned the champions of the SHE League Seniors event at the Jinnah Futsal Courts after they came from behind to crush Islamabad City 6-3 in their decisive final fixture on Saturday.Both teams had maintained perfect records through the first three rounds and Smurfs clinched the title with a come-from behind victory where Asra and Hajra scored twice.Islamabad City earlier finished the SHE League Juniors campaign with five wins out of five after they ran out 6-1 winners over Smurfs. Shanzeh scored four times for Islamabad City, who finished six points ahead of second-placed Midfield. Smurfs ended third with seven points.In a fiercely-contested last league fixture of the Seniors, Islamabad scored first when Maryam found the back of the net with a dinked finish.Smurfs mounted a superb comeback and were 3-1 up by the end of the first half. They levelled matters through a smart finish by Best Player of the Seniors Tournament Asra before going in front through Fatimah. Soon after, Louiza won the ball and powered on to finish.Smurfs began the second half in the same vein; Asra making it 4-1 after a delightful one-two with Warisha before Hajra produced two close-range finishes to put them well and firmly on top.Islamabad City scored twice late on through Maryam and Alina but it proved to be little more than a consolation.In the Juniors event, Best Player of the Tournament Inayah scored one, adding to four by Shanzeh as Islamabad City completed a convincing victory over Smurfs.

Islamabad (Sports News): Shaheens sign off their debut FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival campaign with a comeback win, finishing 169th overall with four victories and two draws in 10 matches.Pakistan brought their debut campaign at the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan to a memorable close with a 4-2 victory over Djibouti, producing a determined comeback after falling behind in the first half.Djibouti took the lead through a cross from the right, with the ball slipping into the bottom corner. Pakistan went into the half-time break trailing 1-0.The Shaheens came out strongly after the interval and drew level in the 23rd minute when captain and midfielder Mohammad Mustafa stepped up to a free-kick on the edge of the box and powered the ball into the net.With Djibouti reduced to seven players, Pakistan capitalised on their numerical advantage. Kaleemullah put the Shaheens ahead in the 32nd minute, collecting the ball at the edge of the box before calmly placing it into the bottom-right corner.Just a minute later, Pakistan extended their lead to 3-1 through an own goal. Djibouti responded almost immediately with a counterattacking goal, reducing the deficit to 3-2 and setting up a tense finish.Djibouti pushed forward in search of an equaliser, putting Pakistan under sustained pressure as they looked to force a penalty shootout. The Shaheens, however, held their nerve and sealed the victory in added time. A kick-in from Mohammad Mustafa found Danish Masih at the far post, and he finished confidently to secure the 4-2 win.PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani, who was present at the match, congratulated the players and team management on a memorable campaign and praised the squad’s performances throughout the tournament. He expressed confidence that the experience gained from competing against teams from across the world would help the young players develop further and excel in their future careers representing Pakistan.Pakistan concluded their 10-match campaign in 169th place in the overall tournament standings, recording four victories and two draws in their historic debut at the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival.

Islamabad (Sports News): Pakistan’s FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026 campaign suffered a setback as the Shaheens lost to Nepal 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a closely contested match ended goalless in regulation time.Both sides enjoyed an evenly matched contest, but neither could find the breakthrough over the course of the game. With the score still 0-0 at full time, the tie went to penalties, where a missed spot-kick proved decisive as Nepal edged through 4-3.

Islamabad (Sports Desk): FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026: Gambia beat Pakistan 4-2, as it was a game of two halves for Pakistan as the Shaheens made their historic debut at the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan, racing to a two-goal lead against Gambia before their opponents mounted a second-half comeback.Pakistan made a dream start, scoring the competition’s opening two goals. Ameer Hamza opened the scoring in the fifth minute, collecting the ball on the right near the halfway line and driving at the Gambian defence before unleashing a fierce strike past the goalkeeper.Hamza was involved again in Pakistan’s second goal, winning a tackle that sent the ball towards Baxi Hamal Khan. Driving forward from the left, Baxi fired a superb shot into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance and giving Pakistan a two-goal advantage.Gambia pulled a goal back before half-time, setting the stage for a tense second period. The African side equalised early after the restart when the ball slipped past Pakistan goalkeeper Shayan.Gambia increased the pressure in the second half, forcing Pakistan to defend deep during the early exchanges. However, the Shaheens gradually found their composure, with Kaleemullah testing the Gambian goalkeeper on more than three occasions and forcing a series of saves.Just as Pakistan looked to regain their footing, a swift counter-attack saw the ball fall to a Gambian player, whose ferocious left-footed strike was rifled into the corner of the net to put his side ahead. Gambia added a fourth with a curling effort into the top corner, completing a dramatic turnaround.Despite the result, Pakistan’s opening spell offered plenty of encouragement, with Hamza and Baxi delivering two outstanding goals on the world stage. The match marked a significant milestone for the Shaheens as they began their journey at the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival in Azerbaijan.

ISLAMABAD (Sports Reporter): Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) head coach Ihsanullah Khan has finalised the 14-member travelling squad for the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan. The young Shaheens will depart for Baku from Islamabad on October 20.The tournament marks a historic milestone for the Pakistan football, with this being the first Pakistani squad to participate in a FIFA World Cup event. The players earned their places among the country’s top young talents through their performances at the PFF National U-17 Championship 2026.The festival will provide the young Shaheens with valuable international experience, exposing them to different footballing cultures and giving them the opportunity to represent Pakistan on the global stage.Pakistan’s Squad (14):Shayan Abdul Jabbar Marwat, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Alam, Maqbool Ahmed, Shahraz Khan, Rameez Riza, Ameer Hamza, Mohammad Mustafa, Ilhan Khan Ali, Bakshi Hamal Khan, Owais Faiz, Zain ul Abideen, Danish Masih, Kaleem Ullah

Sports Reporter ISLAMABAD: The PFF National U-17 Championship 2026 has entered its decisive phase, with four teams from all four provinces securing their places in the semi-finals after the conclusion of the group stage at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad.Sindh Indus, Punjab Harappa, KPK Himalayas and Balochistan Hingol will now battle for a place in the championship final, ensuring representation from Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan in the final four.The final day of the group stage produced two contrasting encounters.Sindh Mehran and GB Karakoram opened proceedings with a closely contested match, with GB Karakoram securing a narrow 1-0 victory. Nawazish scored the only goal of the game in the 64th minute as GB Karakoram finished their campaign with three points.The second match saw Balochistan Hingol and KPK Himalayas play out a hard-fought 0-0 draw.Both sides had enjoyed unbeaten campaigns heading into the final group fixture, and neither was able to find the breakthrough as the two defences held firm throughout.The result saw KPK Himalayas finish top of Group C with seven points, while Balochistan Hingol also finished on seven points, taking second place on goal difference. KPK Himalayas scored 13 goals without conceding, while Hingol finished with nine goals scored and just two conceded.With the group stage now complete, the semi-final line-up is set.Sindh Indus will face KPK Himalayas at 3pm on 8 October, before Punjab Harappa take on Balochistan Hingol at 7pm. Both semi-finals will be played at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad.Sindh Indus enter the knockout stage after topping Group A, while Punjab Harappa finished first in Group B.The championship will take a rest day before the semi-finals on Thursday, with the two winners advancing to the final on 10 October at 7pm.

Islamabad (Sports Reporter): Sindh Indus secured their place in the semi-finals of the PFF National U-17 Championship 2026 after coming from behind to defeat KPK Khyber 4-3 in a thrilling seven-goal encounter at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad, on Monday.In the day’s second match, Balochistan Bolan and Islamabad Margalla played out an entertaining 1-1 draw.The opening game provided one of the most exciting contests of the championship so far, with KPK Khyber producing a dominant first-half performance before Sindh Indus’ pace and technical quality ultimately turned the match in their favour.KPK Khyber took the lead through Atif in the 23rd minute, before Sindh Indus responded with goals from Moosa and Rafay to take control of the contest.Sindh Indus extended their advantage when Rafay struck again in the 79th minute, but KPK Khyber refused to go quietly. Atif scored his second in the 84th minute to bring the score back to 4-3 and set up a tense finish.Sindh Indus held their nerve through the closing stages to secure the victory and, with it, their place in the semi-finals.The contest was played at a high tempo, with KPK Khyber’s energy and intensity particularly evident in the first half. Sindh Indus, however, grew into the match as their pace and technical ability began to create problems for the Khyber defence.Both sides also found themselves benefiting from goalkeeping errors, with Sindh’s final goal coming after the Khyber goalkeeper spilled the ball, while Khyber’s late third came after the Sindh goalkeeper misjudged the flight of the ball.In the second match of the day, Balochistan Bolan and Islamabad Margalla battled to a 1-1 draw in a closely contested encounter.Shahzaib gave Islamabad Margalla the lead in the 24th minute, before Sheraz levelled for Balochistan Bolan in the 34th minute.The contest remained evenly poised after the break, with both sides creating opportunities to find a winner. Balochistan Bolan were reduced to ten men in the 67th minute when Faheem was shown a red card, but they held on to earn a valuable point.The two matches produced eight goals, adding another chapter to an increasingly entertaining PFF National U-17 Championship, with Sindh Indus now through to the semi-finals after a memorable comeback.

Islamabad (Sports Reporter):Balochistan Hingol and KPK Himalayas produced commanding performances at the PFF National U-17 Championship 2026 on Sunday, with Hingol defeating GB Karakoram 5-1 before KPK Himalayas overwhelmed Sindh Mehran 6-0 at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad.Balochistan Hingol took control against GB Karakoram with a series of well-taken goals, combining power, pace and clinical finishing to build a five-goal advantage.Noman opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a rasping drive into the corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.Hingol doubled their advantage in the 43rd minute when Syed Wasif found the net from a free-kick, before Sajjad added a third just a minute later.The third goal came after Hingol broke quickly on the counter from the left, with Sajjad placing the ball calmly past the goalkeeper.Hingol continued to threaten after the break and extended their lead in the 63rd minute when Shahid reacted quickest to a header that had been spilled by the Karakoram goalkeeper.Zameer made it five in the 89th minute after his initial effort was saved, with the Hingol player following up to place the rebound into the net.GB Karakoram found a consolation in stoppage time, Hassan completing an individual effort by placing the ball past the goalkeeper in the 90+3rd minute.In the second match, KPK Himalayas produced one of the most dominant displays of the championship so far, completely controlling their contest against Sindh Mehran from start to finish.Himalayas attacked from all areas of the pitch, dominating possession and creating chances from left, right and through the middle.Taimoor opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Armaq doubled the advantage in the 20th minute.Taimoor struck again in the 27th minute to make it 3-0, while Armaq added his second just before half-time in the 45th minute.Taimoor completed his hat-trick in the 50th minute as Himalayas continued to dominate, before Irmad rounded off the scoring in the 70th minute to complete a comprehensive 6-0 victory.The two results added another 12 goals to an already goal-rich championship, with the young players continuing to provide attacking football and plenty of excitement in Islamabad.

Islamabad (Sports Reporter): The Pakistan Football Federation announced the 21 camp probables for the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026, with the national U-15 camp set to begin on October 6 in Lahore.The camp marks the beginning of Pakistan’s preparations for the landmark youth football festival in Azerbaijan, as the country’s next generation of Shaheens begin their journey towards the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026. 🇵🇰🦅The 21 camp probables are:1. Ahmed Zahid Ullah Khan2. Ameer Hamza3. Bakshi Hamal Khan4. Danish Masih5. Hassan Zeb Khan6. Illhan Ali Khan7. Kaleem Ullah8. Maqbool Ahmed9. Mohammad Alam10. Mohammad Maaaz Adnan11. Mohammad Mustafa12. Mohammad Salman13. Owais Faiz14. Rameez Riza15. Sahil Khan16. Sameer Abdul Samad17. Shahraz Khan18. Shahzaib Nawaz19. Shayan Abdul Jabbar Marwat20. Zain Ul Abideen21. Zul NoorainThe camp will provide the coaching staff with an opportunity to assess the players as preparations begin for Pakistan’s participation in the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan.