2021 National Women Football Championship

The 2021 National Women Football Championship was the 13th edition of the National Women Football Championship, the top-tier of women's association football in Pakistan. It was held in Karachi from 8 March to 3 April 2021. All matches in the group stage were held at the KMC and KPT stadiums with the latter scheduled to hold the finals.[1] The Aga Khan Gymkhana held matches of the development stage. Pakistan Army were the defending champions, having won the 2019–20 National Women Football Championship.[2]

2021 National Women Football Championship
Tournament details
CountryPakistan
CityKarachi
Venue(s)KMC Football Stadium
KPT Stadium
Dates8 March - 1 April 2021
Teams19
Defending championsPakistan Army

On 27 March 2021, following the takeover of the PFF House from PFF Normalization Committee (NC) by the Ashfaq Shah-led group, the Championship was cancelled with only the group stage completed.[3] The development stage tournament was also cancelled by the PFF NC. However, the Ashfaq Shah-led group continued the tournament, but due to the boycott of some of the teams, the tournament was cancelled after the quarterfinals on 1 April 2021.[4]

Format edit

The championship was divided into two parts: the main tournament and a development stage tournament. The main tournament consisted of group stage matches with the top two teams from each group moving forward to the knockouts. The development stage tournament featured the remaining three teams from each group in a separate knockout tournament.[1]

There were eight referees in this tournament, with one of them being a woman.[5]

Awards edit

The prize pool for this championship was PKR 3.2 million. It was to be divided into team and individual awards. The monetary awards were as follows:[1]

Team edit

  • Winner: Rs. 1 million
  • Runner-up: Rs. 750,000
  • Third-place: Rs. 500,000
  • Development stage winners: Rs. 50,000

Individual edit

Total prize money for players, coaches and referees was Rs. 925,000.

Teams edit

Initially, a total of 20 teams were set to participate in the tournament. However, due to differences on the grant allocation, Model Town W.F.C. pulled out, leaving 19 teams in the field.[6]

Notes
TH = Championship title holders

Debutants edit

Seven teams including Masha United, Hazara Quetta Football Academy and Hazara Girls Football Academy made their debuts. For the second time in the championship's history, foreign players were included as part of a local team, with Masha United signing four players from Nepal.[7] Some players were very young, such as those of Hazara Girls F.A., who were all under 15 years old, with one of them being 11.[8]

Covid-19 edit

Mitigation protocol edit

The championship was being conducted with a few protocols including mandatory wearing of masks, temperature screening and a ban on handshakes and team scrums.[6] However, there was no testing of the players or officials including the foreign players who joined Masha United in Karachi.[6]

Suspension of matches edit

On 15 March, PFF announced that all group 'B' matches were suspended following a positive test of a Karachi United player.[9] All players and officials from Karachi United as well as all those from teams having first and second contact i.e. Karachi WFC, Sialkot City WFC and HEC underwent covid test. On 19 March, it was reported that Karachi WFC and HEC had returned negative tests while results of the other two teams were still waited on. Matches involving the former two teams and the remaining 5th team, Masha United, are set to resume on 20 March 2021. The other two teams will not be involved in any matches until all members return negative test results.

Broadcasting edit

Like the previous championship, this year's tournament was streamed live on MyCujoo.[1]

AFC Women’s Football Day edit

The championship opened on 8 March 2021 with a celebration of AFC Women's Football Day at KPT Stadium. Around 50 schoolgirls were introduced to the basis of football by members of the national team including captain Hajra Khan.[6]

Knockout stage and cancellation edit

The top two teams from each group moved into the knockout stage. The remaining teams moved to the development stage tournament.

However, on 27 March 2021, the championship was cancelled. No official reason was given, but the decision took place after the Pakistan Football Federation's office in Lahore was attacked and people inside held hostage by its former president, Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah, and his group.

As the NWFC was cancelled on 27 March 2021, the knockout stages which were to begin on 28 March 2021 were not held by PFF. The Ashfaq Shah-led group, however, decided to complete the tournament by forming a new organizing committee.[10]

In the quarterfinals, Diya W.F.C. gave a walkover to Masha United in protest, while Highlanders, Karachi United, and WAPDA won their respective fixtures. The tournament was cancelled following more protests on 1 April 2021.[11]

Group stage edit

Group A edit

Points table
Pos. Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 WAPDA 3 3 0 0 37 0 +37 9
2 Hazara Girls F.A. 3 1 1 1 1 14 -13 4
3 Gilgit W.F.C. 3 1 0 2 5 15 -10 3
4 Hazara Quetta F.C. 3 0 1 2 0 11 -11 1
5 Model Town W.F.C. Withdrew
Group Stage
WAPDA14–0Gilgit W.F.C.
Syeda Dua Gillani   6', 47'
Maria Khan   9', 43', 75', 84'
Fatima Ansari   10', 29'
Sanober   55', 76', 79', 81'
Sahar Zaman   57'
Shanzay Nazir   59'
Group Stage
Hazara Girls F.A.0–0Hazara Quetta F.C.

Group Stage
Hazara Quetta0–5Gilgit WFC
Zahra   17'
Samreen   22'
Shahzadi   53'
Misbah   84', 90+4'
Group Stage
WAPDAvModel Town WFC

Group Stage
WAPDA6–0Hazara Quetta F.A.
Shanzay Nazir   13', 71'
Mehnaz Shah   15'
Sanober   33'
Fatima Ansari   70'
Kainat Gul   92+2'
Group Stage
Model Town WFCvGilgit WFC

Group Stage
Model Town WFCvHazara Girls F.A.
Group Stage
WAPDAvHazara Quetta F.A.

Group B edit

Points table
Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Masha United 4 3 1 0 60 2 +58 10
2 Karachi United 4 3 1 0 34 2 +32 10
3 Higher Education Commission 4 2 0 2 18 7 -11 6
4 Sialkot City W.F.C. 4 0 1 3 2 42 -10 1
5 Karachi W.F.C. 4 0 1 3 2 64 -61 1
Group Stage
Karachi United19–0Karachi W.F.C.
Zulfia Nazir   4', 15', 36', 38', 46', 50', 56', 58', 58', 60'
Suha Hirani   6', 23', 57', 73', 76'
Eshal Shaikh   9'
Nina Zehri   32', 90'
Naqia   82'
Group Stage
Masha United19–0Sialkot City W.F.C.
Saru Limbu   12', 18', 25', 40', 42', 45+2', 54', 67', 85', 89'
Anita KC   29', 49', 53', 58', 72', 73'
Zara Iqbal   37'
Samroz Samreena Limbu   44'
Gita Rana   63'

Group Stage
Sialkot City WFC2–2Karachi WFC
Noor   5'
Cinderella   15'
Hania Naveed   21', 28'
Group Stage
Karachi United2–0Higher Education Commission
Zulfia Nazir   47', 63'

Group Stage
Higher Education Commission0–4Masha United

Group Stage
Sialkot City WFC0–11Karachi United
Soha   12', 35', 63'
Zulfia Nazir   17', 24', 44', 59', 90', 90+2'
Eshal   48', 49'

Group Stage
Higher Education Commission8–1Karachi WFC
Sidra   10', 21', 65', 78'
Shumaila   52'
Anmol   54', 81', 89'
Mehak Amin   3'
Group Stage
Karachi United2–2Masha United
Zulfia Nazir   47'
Aliha Aladin   57'
Ariba   41'
Saru Limbu   54'

Group C edit

Points table
Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Pakistan Army 4 4 0 0 52 0 52 12
2 Jafa Soccer Academy 4 2 1 1 12 4 8 7
3 F.C. Karachi 4 1 1 2 5 35 -30 4
4 Riaz Kamil F.C. 4 0 3 1 2 11 -9 3
5 Young Rising Stars Layyah 4 0 3 1 2 23 -21 1
Group Stage
Pakistan Army3–0Jafa Soccer Academy
Swaiba Sarfraz   16', 32'
Hajra Khan   40'
Group Stage
Riaz Kamil F.C.1–1F.C. Karachi
Areeba   19' Wania Hasan   4'

Group Stage
Jafa Soccer Academy8–1F.C. Karachi
Sara Abdul Majeed   21', 39', 68', 80' (88)
Fatima   19'
Kiran Fatima   59'
Marwa   90'
Zoha Adnan   79'
Group Stage
Pakistan Army15–0Young Rising Stars Layyah
Hajra Khan   8', 12', 77'
Aliza   16', 24', 45+2'
Swaiba   21', 35', 42'
Rameen   4', 66'
Khadija   11'
Mishal   39'
Eeshal   46'
Rishail   89'

Group Stage
Pakistan Army9–0Riaz Kamil FC
Hajra Khan   5', 26', 90+4'
Rameen Fareed   11', 28', 53'
Eeshal Fayyaz   16'
Swaiba Sarfraz   20'
Rishail 69’  69'
Group Stage
Jafa Soccer Academy4–0Young Rising Stars Layyah
Fatima   29', 63'
Bisma   61'
Kiran Fatima   66'

Group Stage
Riaz Kamil FC1–1Young Rising Stars Layyah
Areeba  20' Tooba  90'
Group Stage
Pakistan Army25–0FC Karachi
Aliza Sabir  15', 20', 21', 34' (45+2), 57', 59'
Swaiba Sarfraz  1', 14', 22', 54', 63', 78'
Hajra Khan  17', 24', 90'
Alina  13', 36'
Rameen Fareed  40', 48'
Roshnan Ali  79', 85'
Mishal Bhatti  60'

Group Stage
Jafa Soccer Academy0–0Riaz Kamil FC
Group Stage
FC Karachi3–1Young Rising Stars Layyah
Zoha Adnan  63', 87'
Alina Mirza  14'
Saima Parveen  29'

Group D edit

Points table
Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Highlanders FC 4 4 0 0 42 0 +41 12
2 Diya W.F.C. 4 3 0 1 37 4 +33 9
3 Mohsin Gillani W.F.C. 4 2 0 2 9 22 -13 6
4 Nawanshehr United 4 0 1 3 1 29 -28 1
5 MUK W.F.C. 4 0 1 3 0 33 -33 1
Group Stage
Diya W.F.C.13–0Mohsin Gillani W.F.C.
Zunaira Shah   25', 52', 71', 72', 85'
Shumaila Gulab Hussain   14', 57'
Marium Zehri   45+1', 60'
Ameerah Haq   64', 81'
Aliya Jalka   41'
Kiran Qureshi   87'
Group Stage
Nawanshehr United0–16Highlanders F.C.
Nazalia   14', 29', 39', 44', 52', 55'
Asmara Habib   2', 4', 16', 22'
Kafia Karim   7', 13', 33'
Abiha Haidar   37', 61'
Fatima Qayyum   24'

Group Stage
Diya W.F.C.15–0MUK W.F.C.
Shumaila Gulab Hussain   3', 11', 64', 68'
Rabia Javaid   15', 70'
Aliya Jalka   23', 31'
Zunaira Shah   45', 60'
Marium Zehri   45+3', 50', 85', 89'
Ameerah Haq   58'
Group Stage
Highlanders F.C.8–0Mohsin Gillani W.F.C.
Fariha   23'
Nazalia   56', 58', 64', 78', 88'
Asmara Habib   70', 93', 16', 22'

Group Stage
Nawanshehr United0–9Diya W.F.C.
Zunaira Shah   18', 90+2'
Rukhsar Rashid   26', 72', 90'
Kiran Qureshi   37'
Aliya Jhallka   43'
Ubeer   60'
Shumaila Gulab Hussain   78'
Group Stage
Mohsin Gillani W.F.C.5–0MUK W.F.C.
Ayesha Shafiq   21', 63'
Shanzay   39'
Arisha   44', 69'

Development stage tournament edit

Format edit

The development stage tournament commenced from 26 March 2021. This tournament included the 11 teams which did not qualify for the knockout stages. Third-placed teams as well as the two best fourth-placed teams from the four groups directly qualified to the quarterfinals, while the rest of the eliminated teams faced each other in the pre-quarterfinals. These matches were scheduled to be held at the Aga Khan Gymkhana ground, and only the pre-quarterfinals took place before the tournament was cancelled. The following teams were included:[12]

  1. FC Karachi
  2. Gilgit WFC
  3. Hazara Quetta Football Academy
  4. Higher Education Commission
  5. Karachi WFC
  6. Mohsin Gillani WFC
  7. MUK FC
  8. Nawanshehr United FC
  9. Riaz Kamil
  10. Sialkot City WFC
  11. Young Rising Stars Layyah

Matches edit

Pre-quarterfinal
Hazara Quetta Football Academy1–0Young Rising Stars Layyah
Farzana Ghulam Nabi   57'
Aga Khan Gymkhana, Karachi
Pre-quarterfinal
Sialkot City WFC2–0MUK FC
Alizay Asad   28'
Fatima Shahzad   53'
Aga Khan Gymkhana, Karachi
Pre-quarterfinal
Nawanshehr United FC0–3Karachi WFC
Hania Naveed   38', 49', 60'
Aga Khan Gymkhana, Karachi

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "National Women's Football Championship set to kick off amid Covid cloud". The News International. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  2. ^ "Pakistan Army trounces Karachi United 7-1 to lift NWFC trophy". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ Lakhani, Faizan (2021-03-28). "National Women Football Championship called off after PFF office takeover". Geo Super. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  4. ^ "National Women Football cancelled after teams refuse to play". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  5. ^ Lakhani, Faizan (2021-03-19). "Meet Kashmala Batool, the only woman referee in the 13th National Women Football Championship". Geo News. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  6. ^ a b c d Wasim, Umaid (2021-03-08). "National Women's Football Championship set to kick off amid Covid cloud". Dawn. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  7. ^ Lakhani, Faizan (2021-03-08). "No Covid-19 testing for National Women Football Championship". Geo TV. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  8. ^ Raheel, Natasha (2021-03-18). "Despite 17-0 loss, Hazara girls keep spirits high". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  9. ^ Wasim, Umaid (2021-03-16). "First Covid-19 case emerges in National Women's Football Championship". Dawn. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  10. ^ "National Women Football to be completed, decides Ashfaq-led PFF". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  11. ^ Editorial Staff (2021-04-02). "National Women Football cancelled after teams refuse to play [The News]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  12. ^ Editorial Staff (2021-03-26). "Hazara Quetta, Sialkot City win in NWFC Development Stage". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2022-01-14.

External links edit