Fall Season - Week Eleven - December 16th

Haya vs IhsanYou know Ihsan were looking forward to their rematch with Haya. This is the only team that got them, losing 3-2 about a month ago. For Ihsan they are out for revenge and to show Haya that they don’t have the recipe to beat them. Also this game is important in their bid to finish tops in the league. After tying Shukr last week, Emaan now has the inside track to finish first overall (see news and rumors). As well this represents the last attempt for Hany Soliman to re-establish himself as the goal-scoring leader; He held the spot earlier on in the season. In that game last month Nadeem Faqiri and Huzaifa Manjra helped Haya jump out to the lead and Khalid Mufti did the rest. This time around it is hard to anticipate who will be in the lineup for Haya as was evident in last week’s defeat to Yaqeen where attendance seems to be an issue. We feel for GM Naiem Akhtar who seems to be consistently showing up for his team this season despite not getting the same respect from his fellow team-mates. Rumors are circulating that Hisham Ali will be unavailable for this tilt.

Yaqeen vs Emaan
Two of the best in the business of potting goals go head-to-head for the very first time. Waqar Khan (Emaan) and Hamza Chaudhry (Yaqeen) currently share the goal-scoring lead with Arif Bijabhai (Shukr). The latter has already completed his season.  Beyond these players, both teams possess tremendous fire-power as Emaan has scored the most goals (27) and Yaqeen the second most (25). However, both teams are also getting it done at the other end of the rink with Yaqeen only giving up 9 goals (1st in the league) and Emaan right behind them, giving up 12 goals. In fact, Yaqeen comes into this contest riding a two-game shutout streak over Ikhlas and Haya. Whereas, Emaan has only conceded 1 goal in their last three matches. So this game might be a ‘good old-fashion western style shootout ’ or a ‘drag you through the mud defensive battle ’. What’s at stake is the winner will punch their ticket straight to the semis.

Ikhlas vs Sabr
It’s the playoff game before the post season. The final crunch before the regular season. Call it whatever you may but this last meeting between the basement dwellers will eventually cement the final playoff spot for one team. Ikhlas has put their best step forward all season long but have endured frustration along the way. The greens shirts have the edge in points (compared to Sabr) but need to get it going offensively as they possess the lowest goals for. GM Salman Khalid might've expected more value from Salman Syed and Faisal Mehboob but luckily Shehyar Khan has managed to compensate the team’s misfortunes. The last time Ikhlas met Sabr, the two squads ended in a 1-1 tie. Ikhlas's "upgrade" of Zayd Agjee has thus far looked questionable. I mean he's not gonna fetch you that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but maybe if he plays bullheaded and focused then perhaps the sky is the limit. Expect the prowess of Ali Murtaza to come into play during this regular season finale. It's elementary for both teams, you win and you’re in.

Sabr's has had their own tales to tell while sulking around the campfire this season. A mere 0-5-3 and no wins to show for? Believe it or not but this squad has been teased with victory so many times that it's astonishing no one has dived from the Sabr boat and headed for the life rafts yet. The biggest bane of Sabr has been goaltending and defense. GM Naiem Malik and his defensive core need to shutdown Ikhlas's offensive threats and capitalize from team green's errors. The yellow shirts have a plethora of ammunition upfront and have to come into this game with loaded guns, I mean a winning spirit. Akib Malik and Saleem Malik have been frequenting the scoresheet and that's expected. What's going on with Abdu Sharkaway and Imran Lakhanpal? Sabr can't prolong this first win any longer and MUST seal the deal this Friday. The i-Slam polls say that Sabr will capture the final playoff spot. Sounds good, doesn't it? Actions speak louder than words. Which team will come out victorious?