Spring Previews - Week Three - February 26th

Haya vs Shukr

GM Zuhair Fancy's team comes off a bye week and will try to preserve their winning pace as they square off against Shukr. Haya looks to prove the sceptics that their win versus a depleted Ikhlas wasn't just a fortuity. However to authenticate that fact, they'll have to jump over a powerhouse in Shukr. Does Haya have the defensive knack to clam down Shukr's offence? Waqar Khan has been the tentpole for this franchise and will need to shoulder a lot of directions to get this team past team blue. 

Shukr is coming off a big 3-1 win over Sabr and will venture to trump Haya this Friday night. 

Against Sabr, Shukr came flying off all canons where Faisal Mehboob jolted the teele shirts with a two goal performance. GM Kashif Taqiuddin's crew will use all the utensils imaginable in generating a 2-0 record against Haya, whom also exhibited a solid showing against Ikhlas. Nadeem Qureshi and Luqman Arshad will lead the defensive duties while stud goaltender Yasir Hussain looks to shutout the opposition. Can Haya overthrow Haya?

Burning Questions?

Can Haya stop Shukr's weathered squad from climbing the standings?

Who's Hot?

Farooq Sani was instrumental in his team's last game, Sani bagged a 4 point night.

Player To Watch:

Faisal Mehboob scored two goals in Shukr's debut and will be on Haya's watch.

Emaan vs Ihsan

After coming off an enthralling win over Sabr, GM Ibrahim Hindy's posse confronts an offensively undernourished team in Ihsan. Emaan demonstrated that they have the most influential firepower in their first line and even their second line produced ample chances. However, last week Sabr blew the roof of Emaan's backend and almost tied the game, considering that Emaan was up 3-1; is there a reason to worry? Will Emaan's defence be able to sustain Ihsan's tight forecheckers? 

Ihsan has picked up Amir Multani off waivers and consequently shipped out d-man Imdad Ali, who was later handed to Sabr. The red shirts pickup a decent offensive minded player in Multani but is the defensive sacrifice sufficient to increase prowess upfront? Ihsan should worry, and especially against Emaan! Netminder Fraz Khan stepped in some big shoes last year as a fill-in and quite frankly looked great. Will he be able to meet the challenge of shutting down the orange shirts willful forwards?

Burning Questions?

Can Ihsan's find a way to win?

Who's Hot?

Gehad Al-Hundi was a force to reckon with last week and had a relishing 3 point night. 

Player To Watch:

There was a lot of commotion with the acquisition of Amir Multani this week. Is Multani pure firepower or just fluff?

Spring Previews - Week Two - February 19th

Ihsan vs Ikhlas

Ihsan swings into action as they cascade onto the arena with Ikhlas. GM Fuzail Thakur and his band of merry men look to snatch their first win while trying to put a dent into Ikhlas's winning ambitions. Ahmad Hathout and Nadeem Faqiri will plug in the holes for offence while Salman Khalid gets service from Mohammad Hamoud in the backend. However, after their first line, offence for Ihsan appears watery. Many players will have to rise to the occasion and provide a touch of their own if this team wants to be a part of that winning conversation. Will Ihsan be able to strike a winning chord?

Ikhlas had a trembling game versus Haya last week. It's perplexing, cause Yusuf Kapoor just reeled off a solid winter season but unfortunately allowed a confounding 3 goals on 3 shots. First game jitters? Not only were the critics scratching their heads in disorientation but many remain to see that headlined "potent" offence strike. GM Naveed Mohammad strolls back to the drawing board and realigns his team's direction. Arif Bijabhai and the youngsters upfront have gotta get the kicks going or else a soggy fate awaits them. Will Ikhlas be able to rebound from their gruesome season opener? 

Burning Questions?

Will Ihsan's defence be able to sustain Ikhlas's alarming forwards?

Who's Hot?

Abdur-Rahman Buttar got the lone goal for his team.

Player to Watch:
He's a one man wrecking machine and was an instrumental factor to winning the championships last season. Watch out for Ahmed Hathout.

Sabr vs Emaan

Sabr suffered a frustrating loss versus Shukr last week. The 3-1 defeat was a back-and-forth battle where the teele shirts had the momentum swaying with them at times, but were muted by two quick goals by Shukr. Despite the loss, GM Salman Alvi's squad exhibited some promise and now head for another litmus test with a top notch team in Emaan. Sabr's defence must shutdown Emaan's first line which boasts some solid tier one components. The Soliman's have yet to strike and missing Hany Soliman last game put a dent in the Sabr's aspirations. Can this group make it happen against Emaan's dubious defence?

Emaan plays their first game and flexes it's muscles on the offensive department. Battered with an array of gents who can score and cause chaos, Emaan brandishes some solid weaponry that can put on a big hurt. GM Ibrahim Hindy, Gehad Al-Hundi and Yousuf Sowdagar are known culprits upfront. The question is; do they have the defensive capacity in thwarting pressure from the Soliman's and company? Huzaifa Manjara and Emad Hussain lead the charge defensively while veteran netminder Khalid Mufti mans the pipes. Will Emaan finish the night in the win column?

Burning Questions?
Can Sabr carve a win against Emaan?

Who's Hot?
No one yet...

Player to Watch:

Sometimes you wonder if he has ABS brakes installed in his shoes, cause he can really move out there. Keep your eyes peeled for Yousuf Sowdagar.

Spring Previews - Week One - February 12th

Haya vs Ikhlas

Haya gets their feet wet as they face-off with Ikhlas this Friday. GM Zuhair Fancy and his defensive corps of Farrukh Khan, Farooq Sani and Rayhan Malik will try to restrict Ikhlas's time on Haya's turf. The black shirts talent in the backend eclipses their offensive prowess, that means Waqar Khan will need to squeeze the talent of each forward in garnering them a point. Haya needs to come out of the gates hard and diffuse any murmurs of their offensive capacity. Can Haya's defence withstand Ikhlas's firepower? 

GM Naveed Mohammad and his tribe of Ikhlas warriors will employ their nimble legs versus Haya. Coached by the polarizing Ijaz Chaudhry, team Ikhlas will buy into Chaudhry's orders and try to win each ball battle. Arsalan Mian, Humza Chaudhry and Farhan Buttar lead the offensive charge while Haris Mallick, Naveed Mohammad and Rayhan Taqiuddin provide the defensive cohesion. Will Ikhlas be able to take the brunt of Waqar Khan and company? Does this young core have the brain-smarts of winning? 

Burning Questions?

Which team will win their first game?

Player To Watch:

Will he be the saviour or the one man show for Haya? Waqar Khan hasn't been a stranger and will be on Ikhlas's watch list. Will Khan be able to get his crew a big win?

Who's Hot?

No one yet.

Shukr vs Sabr

Don't let these dinosaurs deceive you, cause these guys have plenty of bite. There's enough depth on this squad to drown the opposition, so think twice before stepping in the ring with these weathered gents. From back to front, GM Kashif Taqiuddin went for booksmarts and collaborated a roster that's been to hell and back. Saleem Malik, Aazar Zafar, Ali Murtaza will be the main guys trying to cause pandemonium in Sabr's zone, while buddies Luqman Arshad and Sadat Malik lead the defensive department. Will Shukr be able to keep pace with Sabr?

Sabr is comprised of the Soliman's and many grainy individuals that will work some taxing shifts. GM Salman Alvi might've scored the Soliman's in the draft but will need a well rounded effort from his squad every game. Mazhar Hussain and Sulmaan Azmat look to provide some secondary scoring while Baseer Khan and Qasim Khan provide some grit on the third line. Netminder Sadiq Rehman hasn't been a foreigner and will search for better fortunes this season on Sabr. Can Sajid Khan and Abdul-Wahab Mohammad sustain Shukr's pressure?

Burning Questions?

Which team will win their first game?

Player To Watch:

Saleem Malik returns to the grind and has the repute of a hard working forward. His determination and efforts will be a pivotal in Shukr's fate.

Who's Hot?

No one yet.