Fall Previews - Week Two - October 9th

Shukr vs Sabr - 7:45PM

Shukr kicked off the season last week against Ikhlas in what was a very tentative game, especially during the first period. Mehmed Rizvanovic scored the only goal for Shukr, showing he may have been a very smart pick for Shukr as they looked extremely strong at the centre position.

Another good omen for Shukr must have been the play of Kaunain Saiyed, who looked very strong during his match, although Shukr did a good job limiting chances against him.

Sabr lost their first game, despite having clear moments of strength on the team. Ahmad Hathout put up two assists, and newcomer and GM Hanif Kasuji scored in his first I-Slam game but had difficulty dealing with the speed Haya had put together. This will be a big test for the group, as Shukr is not particularly fast but does have skill.

Burning Questions?
Can Zaid Majoo rebound from last week? The rookie goalie covers a lot of the net but had some difficulty posting a .727 save percentage.

Players to Watch:
Aazar Zafar is being asked to carry a line and create offense on his own. Normally a playmaker, this will be a big role for Zafar to fill in.

Who's Hot?
Ahmad Hathout had a two point game last week and is always a threat.


Haya vs Ihsan - 8:45PM

Ihsan was embarrassed last week and shut out with all their big guns going radio silent. Shuaib Hussain, Arssal Shahabuddin and Ibrahim Hindy couldn't create any offense and the team suffered as a result.

For a team built to be offensively minded, there can't be more scoreless games on the schedule.

Haya, on the other hand, now leads the league in goals for after they defeated Sabr 3-2 last week. The combination of speed, grit and booming slap-shots allowed them to create solid offense chances over and over again.

Salman Khalid helped them push the pace of their game and Umar Muhammad and Imran Lakhanpal took advantage of time and space to score. They certainly look to be one of the tougher teams to counter this season.

Burning Questions?
Can Ihsan create more offense this year?

Player to Watch:
Umar Muhammad used his speed all game last week and will need to be controlled by the opposition.

Who's Hot?
Faisal Mehboob 


Emaan vs Ikhlas - 9:45PM

Ikhlas played a disciplined games last week and resulted in a tie against a team most thought carried far more talent than them. The expectation for opponents has to be to expect a team that grinds and plays well defensively.

Rookie Nadeem Faqiri scored for Ikhlas and the Khan (not actually) brothers were always a threat on the floor.

Emaan won resoundingly last week as well, making a strong statement. Even missing one of their top picks in Naiem Malik, the team was not worse for the wear. The chemistry between the (actual) Soliman brothers was clear to see and will give them a distinct advantage over their opponents.
Ikhlas will need to create a game-plan to deal with Yousuf, Osama, Hani and Walied Soliman.

Burning Questions?
Can Ikhlas grind out another game?

Player to Watch:
Waqar Khan will lead the way for Ikhlas.

Who's Hot?
Hani Soliman had three primary assists last week, to lead the league.