Football: Five champions emerge in Leisure Leagues Season 2

KARACHI: Leisure Leagues Pakistan, which hosted Ronaldinho and Friends earlier this year in Karachi and Lahore, completed its Season 2 on Saturday (December 16) at a local ground.

In its Season 2, Leisure Leagues hosted five leagues of eight teams each. Leisure Leagues characterized three of the five as Premier Leagues while the remaining two were Division ‘1’ leagues. Each team consisted of ten players. Six players are fielded in a given point of time during the match, in a reduced ground, said a statement issued here.

Phoenix emerged as Champions in a Premier League held at 16-Star Football Ground. The Vikings were the runner-up in the league. 14-year-old Taha Mehmood of Phoenix, who is the son of former international cricketer Mehmood Hamid, claimed the ‘Player of the League’ award.

He received a medal from Leisure Leagues Area Manager Karachi Riaz Ahmed. Apart from Taha, Mehmood Hamid’s other three sons Saad, Zain and Ariz, also played for Phoenix.

Himself a very good dribbler, Taha said that the game increases the speed and team game. “We have improved our short passes and team game while playing in Leisure Leagues. It has also improved finishing skills,” he said.

Taha believes that Leisure Leagues has promoted football in the city since all of his friends were now interested in playing in Leisure Leagues.

In its Season 2, Leisure Leagues hosted five leagues of eight teams each. Leisure Leagues characterized three of the five as Premier Leagues while the remaining two were Division ‘1’ leagues. Each team consisted of ten players. Six players are fielded in a given point of time during the match, in a reduced ground.

Meanwhile, in Division ‘1’ League at the same venue, host 16-Star secured top position. Hazara United was the runner-up side.

ohammad Hakim, who played in the famous and celebrated match of Ronaldinho and Friends in Karachi, played for Hazara United during the league. He was happy to be part of Leisure Leagues and said that playing with Ronaldinho and other international players like Ryan Giggs made him a sort of celebrity in his circle.

All champion and runner-up teams received trophies and players of the leagues, received medals. All players of first, second and third position teams received certificates.

According to rule books of Leisure Leagues, a league must have maximum of ten teams or a minimum of eight teams.