Spring Previews - Week Three - February 27th

Ikhlas vs Sabr

The prospect of Ikhlas winning a game grows more comical week by week. It's a bold statement but it's true. Attendance, structure and gameplay are extremely lacking here. I can pinpoint a handful of instances last week where some Ikhlas players chose to deke the entire Sabr cast rather than pass. Dropped by a score of 6-1 and left gasping for air, Ikhlas can only hope for a better fate when they rematch Sabr. I'm predicting that Ikhlas will be "Khalas" this week. Any takers? 

From GM Mustafa Alam's "end to end" highlight reel goal to Ahmad Ibrahim's gritty two goals, Sabr executed to the nail and dusted their hands clean of exterminating Ikhlas. Zayd Agjee was solid in net, as always. Agjee's allowance of Ikhlas's lone goal is negligible but perhaps it was his "sadqa" of the week. While my guess is that Sabr will likely blow Ikhlas out of the water once again, expect Atif Mian and Abdul Aziz Rasoul to cause pandemonium on the Green Machine's grounds. Will Sabr be able to prolong their unbeaten streak?

Player To Watch:

The lanky Mohamad Hamoud will have to come to his team's aid. If there's one player that can give this team a sparkle of hope, it's got to be Hamoudi!

Who's Hot?

Ahmed Ibrahim scored twice and has started the spring season off on a BIG note. Does it get bigger than this for Sabr?

Burning Questions?

Can Shukr make it to the promise land and secure their first win?

Ihsan vs Shukr

Ihsan came out full speed versus Shukr last week and settled the night off in a 2-2 tie. Still salivating to earn their first win, the red shirts pulled out the firing squad and outshot their opponents profoundly. However, some defensive breakdowns and a botched powerplay cost the Red Army a point. Farooq Sani and Ahmad Hathout polarized the floor with their hearty efforts. Abu Mamooji wasn't as busy as expected but still allowed 2 goals on a mere 11 shots. Expect Ihsan to maintain their pursuit of seizing their first win. Will the red shirts be able to snap their winless streak?

Shukr had a rough night last week but still managed to make a game with Ihsan. Outshot, outplayed and looking slightly lethargic, the blue shirts ended up residing more in their own end compared to the rivals. Then came Ibrahim Hindy, laced with his a red cape and salvaged a point for his tribe with decent help from Imran Lakhanpal and Arssal Shahbuddin. The blue shirts have gotta show more fire on the floor and play with more hunger. Goaltender Khalid Mufti showcased his skill set by making some ginormous saves; can he pull it off this week? Will Shukr finally be able to crank out a win?

Player To Watch:

There aren't a pair of hands that have the finesse of Hany Soliman. Although he may be coming reeling an injury, don't count Hany out just yet.

Who's Hot?

Both representatives from each team pocketed two goals. Ibrahim Hindy and Farooq Sani.

Burning Questions?

Can Shukr make it to the promise land and secure their first win?

Emaan vs Haya

Emaan was left scratching their heads after losing a tight game with Haya. It was a marginal tilt which had all the fireworks in the opening period. However at the end of the night Yusuf Kapoor and his squad seized the bragging rights and sole possession of first place. The Oranngemen still have their work cut out and have to snap Haya's defensive fort. GM Furqan Salam and his team will need to putting their thinking caps on as Haya's veteran leaders devise a counterattack. Can Emaan return to their winning ways?

Naeem Akhtar and Junaid Mohammad continue to prove that they are this team's fabric. However, let's not forget to mention that Yusuf Kapoor stole the game including a last minute blocker save that ultimately left Emaan in a daze. This rematch versus Emaan allows Haya to dissociate themselves from the remnants of the league, provided they can topple the orange shirts one again. Watch for Akib Malik and Umar Muhammad to deplete Emaan's prudent defence. Will Haya be able to win three straight?

Player To Watch:

Haya's first overall pick has been very instrumental for his squad. Keep your eyes peeled for Aazar Zafar. 

Who's Hot?

After winning two straight, it's fair to say that all of Haya is hot.

Burning Questions?

Will Emaan be able to solve Yusuf Kapoor?

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Spring Previews - Week Two - February 20th

Sabr vs Ikhlas - 8PM

Ikhlas had a thoroughly disappointing week one in which it seemed like everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Everything from line changes to just simply moving their feet seemed like an enormous challenge and in the end Ikhlas suffered a difficult 5-2 loss.

Far worse than the score was just the effort level of the team. They were outshot 43-13 and the game was never remotely close.

For Sabr's, week one could have gone much, much worse but instead they were able to salvage a point with a tie. With the entire first line of Yousuf Sowdagar, Atif Mian and Navas Sheikh out of the lineup, Sabr was able to hang in and ultimately score a late powerplay goal to record a tie. However, Sabr had ample time on the PP throughout the game, including a 5 minute power-play which they were unable to capitalize on and yet still had to hang on to gain a point. 

Sowdagar will still be missing for this game but sources say that he is very close to returning and will be joining the Sabr roster for week three. But with Sheikh and Mian reportedly joining the club, there should be a boost of speed at the top of the lineup waiting to meet Ikhlas.

Player to Watch:
You can't complain about Ibad Khan's performance because he had no help. The problem is, he might not get any help. He may need to be fantastic and steal games - something he is fully capable of.

Who's Hot?
Mohammad Khattab scored his first of the season after taking a one season hiatus for Sabr. He's not a big goal-scorer, so I'll put him here whenever I get the chance!

Shukr vs Ihsan - 9PM

Red and Blue will meet up for this week two matchup after disappointing starts to the season. Ihsan dropped their first game to Haya after clearly having trouble with Haya's speed and grind game while Shukr tied a grueling match to Sabr after squandering many chances to take a definitive lead.

Ihsan managed to battle back last week but clearly had trouble generating shots on goal. But never count Ihsan out. They've been to the finals twice already since the Spring season's inauguration two years ago, and have been champions once. They will figure things out considering the talent in their group.

Gehad Alhundi was missing from Shukr's efforts last week and is expected to join this week, but Shukr seems to be a revolving door of absences at this point - so don't expect a full team this week either.

If this game opens up with both sides trading chances, I imagine that Ihsan will win favour as Yousuf and Hani Soliman and Ahmad Hathout would thrive in those circumstances. A more tightly structured game may bring different results. And knowing the friendship between Gehad Alhundi and Yousuf Soliman, the matchup between the two might be hotly contested.

Player to Watch:
Hani Soliman is still recovering from a tough ankle injury he suffered in the fall. He was playing extremely well prior to the injury, so you might expect him to take off once he begins to feel better.

Who's Hot?
Ahmad Hathout scored a goal last week and looked dangerous throughout his game.

Emaan vs. Haya - 10PM

It's the return of the home and home series in I-Slam Hockey. After a hiatus of a few years, two teams will battle each other on consecutive weeks. And to make matters more interesting, the matchup is between the two most impressive teams on week one.

Emaan basically dismantled their opposition in week one, out-shooting them 43-13. That's nearly a 4:1 ratio. That's insane!

Haya meanwhile kept grinding, running and working as they stifled Ihsan's offensive weapons and pulled out an impressive 3-2 win. Though they wobbled near the end, Haya was strong during the majority of the game.

Both teams are noted for the same weakness - between the pipes. Emaan's Sadiq Rehman missed game one with a wrist injury and the jury is out on whether he'll be ready for this game but Haya's Yusuf Kapoor looks to have regained his confidence following two back-to-back strong seasons.

Emaan looks like the strongest offensive team in the league with Haya looking like they have the deepest defense corps. Goaltending is about even. Who wins? Your guess is as good as mine.

Player To Watch:
Furqan Salam had a disappointing fall season without registering a goal. He's got two assists already this season and I'm guessing he can't wait to get back in the goal category.

Who's Hot?
Jibraan Salam leads the league with 3 points after a strong start last week.

Spring Previews - Week One - February 13th

Ihsan vs Haya

GM Salman Khalid's clan gets the honour of opening the spring season versus a very brisk Haya team. While on paper, The Red Army has a firm grasp of the defensive core as Nauman Abbasi, Farooq Sani and Nadeem Qureshi entertain the blue line. Ihsan's offensive artillery is proportionately potent with the Solimon's (Hany and Yousuf) and Ahmed Hathout digesting the burden upfront. But is this ammunition durable to beat the likes of Junaid Mohammad and Luqman Arshad? Goaltender Abu Mamooji has displayed some promise last spring season and will need to get on his high horse for this one versus grey. Can Ihsan make a splash in their first win?

Haya, or should we say, "Malik-nation" is set to take the show on the road with Akib Malik, Saleem Malik and Naeem Akhtar standing in the forefront. Glazed with oodles streetsmart players, you can attest that the grey shirts will give the audience value as they try to pace the foot races against Ihsan. Aazar Zafar, Junaid Mohammad and Umar Muhammad's added force will be pivotal since the supporting effort will lean on their shoulders. My query is if Yusuf Kapoor. Is this guy you wanna hitch your success wagon to? Kapoor had a top notch season last winter and will look to carryover that momentum this time. Which Kapoor will come out this season?

Player To Watch:

Naeem Akhtar achieved a milestone last season and truly displayed his value. Can he reel off the same momentum this time and make another impact?

Who's Hot?

No one yet...

Burning Questions?

Which team will take the first win?

Emaan vs Ikhlas

What's i-Slam without the battle of Cambridge? GM Furqan Salaam instantly plucked defensive buddies Adeel Awan and Belal Hafeez at the draft, now this week Emaan's litmus test will be Ikhlas. The Orangemen will severely employ Waqar Khan and Arif Bijabhai against their west end rivals. Netminder Sadiq Rehman gets to showcase his goaltending skills and I'm certain this is a game he'd relish to win. Is Emaan's offensive cohort cohesive enough to break through Ibad Khan? Abdu Sharkway and Jibran Salaam are decently invested players that aren't pedestrian in scoring. Can Bilal Pervaiz and his defensive troops withstand Ikhlas?

The Green Machine return with GM Wakaas Khan at the helm. Things are always challenging when you're playing against keeper Ibad Khan. Fortunate is Ikhlas to have him, but can they make his life a breeze by defending him. Sajid Khan, Hammad Khan and Wajahat Khan will be the go to guys in the back end while "highly acclaimed" Amir Multani and Ali Murtaza attempt an offensive show in the "orange" end of the arena. "Lots of shots," might be the chant here for the green shirts. Obviously Sadiq Rehman might be smaller compared to others but his speed can't be discounted. Can Ikhlas win the battle of C-town?

Player To Watch:

Assad Dar makes it happen regardless. His tough spirit and bullheadedness will be a key to Ikhlas taking game one.

Who's Hot?

No one yet...

Burning Questions?

Which team will take the first win?

Sabr vs Shukr

GM Mustafa Alam returns back to the GM'ing scene and has compiled quite an intriguing roster by snagging Yousuf Sowdagar in the first round. Already battered with a decent management in Farrukh Khan, Zayd Agjee and highly touted east-ender Navaz Shaikh, its anticipated that Sabr will be a gritty team to play against day in and day out. Can the secondary cast of Azhar Kalair, Abdul Aziz and Mohamad Khattab get the job done? Words can't express the unmitigated talent Zayd Agjee brings, we'll let his action speak volumes. Versus Shukr they'll be hellbent on breaking the tight defence of Arrsal Shabuddin and Riaz Lasania. Will Sabr be able to seal the deal?

Shukr was shepherded by Ibrahim Hindy and Ahmed Hassan on draft day and the results seems appealing, thus far. The Blue Battalion's offence gyrates around Gehad Al-Hundi, Shuaib Hussein and Ibrahim Hindy. Minding the pipes is the seasoned Khalid Mufti while Humza Hussein and Zuhair Fancy provide more brawn on the blue line. For Shukr, it's all about getting the big "W". Since there are more offensive commodities like Imran Lakhanpal and Faisal Mehboob, it'll be interesting to note where this team's fortunes lie. The blue shirts must be tight in their own zone against Sabr. There's a lot of lethal canons on yellow so being cognizant of your surroundings will be vital for Shukr. Will the blue shirts be able to carve a big win on opening night?

Player To Watch:

The was a lot of chatter regarding Navaz Shaikh. Will he be the added force Sabr requires or just a big name?

Who's Hot?

No one yet...

Burning Questions?

Which team will take the first win?

Tier Two Finals

Haya vs Zuhd

Lights, camera, action! Now that Ridha and Ikhlas have been filtered out of the playoffs, it's only fitting to say that we'll finally witness a 1 vs 2 seed matchup for the first time in tier two history. Previous years have allowed the frail to slither in, but not this year. Haya and Zuhd is a heavenly matchup for the cup; but who'll take the championship? 

Face to Face Record:

Zuhd wins 7-6 (Oct. 17)

Zuhd - Haya tie game, 3-3 (Dec. 5)

What's To Celebrate?

Haya has been stellar upfront and have catalogued at least 5 players that pocket stats in double digits. It's ridiculous, but true. There isn't any shortage of scoring with the Misty Marauders as Waseem Bangash, Mehmed Rizwanovic and Ali Murtaza lead the charge upfront. Coach K's philosophy of "loading up on forwards" is a success story in its own but is their backend equally proficient in sustaining pressure? On the other hand, Haya's power play is absolutely ace, they instantly punish their opponents so Zuhd better be cognizant and refrain from penalties.

Zuhd may not be lateral with Haya offensively but their defence is instrumental in beating Haya. GM Fahad Malik and Naeem Akhtar are the strongest defensive duo in tier two and for this sole reason Zuhd's defence is a paramount feature for the purple shirts. Not to mention that Amir Baig will grandly "welcome" anyone trying to straddle the blue line. Regardless, there's more shrewd plays being orchestrated from the backend and that's resulted to a better transition game. Zuhd's defence is stronger at suffocating the opposition and hemming them in their own zone. 

What's To Frown At?

Although their defence has been stable, the grey shirt's defensive unit has shown some stains when correlated to Zuhd. There's a tendency to play with the ball excessively, and that fact mumbles when you compare both team's goals against average. Fuzail Thakur, Zahid Merchant and Humza Hussain have been decent but now it's time to make the simple plays out, or else purple will bite you!

Zuhd has been anemic upfront (in comparison to Haya), so there'll be some motivation in crafting more production henceforward. Shabil Ahmed, Abdu Sharkawy and Faisal Mehboob have been strong investors in the team's cogent offence, and will be on their tip toes in attempts of matching Haya's canons. If all else fails, the purple shirts might need an offensive lift from the defence. Did anyone say Naeem Akhtar?

Regardless, this series is all about Haya's offence versus Zuhd's defence. The fact that the previous meetings between the two teams playing close matches makes this series even more captivating.

On The Prowl:

Arif Khan has been a lethal weapon for Haya. The dangerous dangler has pocketed a healthy 13 points and will look to be a threatening individual for any Zuhd d-man.

Usamah Rao has elevated his game to the next level and has been a revelation this season. Watch for Usamah to wear down Haya's defence and digest any scoring chances. Surely, Rao will be on Haya's radar.

Unsung Heros:

Humza Ali has discovered his groove and has turned quite a few heads with his relentless efforts. His locus on the stats reflects the tremendous effort Humza has put forth for his squad this year.

Huzaifa Manjara has been a sufficient contributor for the Purple Platoons. From assisting upfront to even playing in net, the Bollywood wannabe is craving in making an impact to his team's fortunes this season.

Keepers of the Netted Nests:

If there's one advantage Rizwan Ali has over Yusuf Kapoor is experience. The veteran goaltender has more stories than Walt Disney and is playing at his peak this season. Can he surge his squad to claiming the championships?

Unlike other seasons, Yusuf Kapoor has been firm this time and has flared a lot of confidence within the pipes. The young lad has had decent armoury in front of him but hasn't been that busy; quite frankly cause his team has been kicking butts. Yusuf, your work is cut out for you this time! 

Tier Two Playoffs - Round One

Haya vs Ridha

It wasn't a miracle to witness Haya deluge in full force and completely go Hollywood all over Ikhlas last week. Coach K's troops stomped the Green Machine by a score of 7-3 and wrenched back what was rightfully theirs, the first place title. Now it's showtime and with the backdrop of elimination in the air, only 30 minutes will dictate whether this group is the real deal or fool's gold. Any betting man would take Haya in heartbeat versus Ridha, after all the grey shirts have a platter of offensive assortments. However, this is the playoffs and tier two history has dictated from previous seasons that "whom shall win first place will never win the championships". Is Haya ready to rewrite history? Will Haya be able to beat Yasir Hussain and Ridha? 

You gotta give an ovation to Ridha for playing a hearty 30 minutes and skulking by Shukr. Not only did they reserve their seats to the post-season but Ridha cranked Shukr's coffin without Faheem Kotwal and Imran Lakhanpal. Not bad for a night's work! So, let's talk business. The only plausible way the Orangemen can win this elimination game is from the back end. Ridha could elect the dull game plan of going auto-pilot and pouncing on their chances, essentially playing the waiting game. However, Haya is to shrewd for that and will be a handful for them regardless. Netminder Yasir Hussain will be playing the biggest game of his life. Can GM Zaid Mahmood employ a plan that'll elevate this squad to next dimension? How will Ridha shut down Waseem Bangash and Ali Murtaza?

Player To Watch:
It's more like players to watch. Talib Contractor, Shaan Abbasi and Bilal Alvi chewed up most of the playing minutes last game and certainly stepped in some big shoes. Keep those shoes on boys!

Who's Hot?
Mehmed Rizwanovic has crafted quite the repute for himself game after game. The rookie (to i-Slam) has 14 points this season and has been instrumental for Haya.

Zuhd vs Ikhlas

Judging from their resume, the only pragmatic finalist might infact be Zuhd. It's an audacious statement but it's perceivable, unless Ikhlas doesn't reform from their inundating defeat last week. The Purple Platoon recently bid farewell to Yaqeen and left them in a dazing 3-1 loss. Shabil Ahmed and Naeem Akhtar have been the dark horses that have planted this team on cloud nine. Zuhd's defence has been synonymous with their offense and don't look now but goaltender Rizwan Ali is playing tougher than leather on a shoe. GM Fahad Malik has also been a key facet on this team and will look to drive this 18 wheeler right to the finals. However, Zuhd has faced one of their loses to the Green Machine so it'll be interesting to envision both squads doing justice over one another. How many goals will it take to put Ikhlas to sleep? This game is well balanced and will be an exhilarating one!  

Ikhlas must swallow this loss and appreciate it happened now, rather than latter. Despite a

few hindrances, the Green Machine have been churning along and have shared quite a ride over their 10 game regular season. GM Amir Multani, Wakaas Khan and Atif Mian have been the pillars to the offence, while Farrukh Khan and his camp of defensemen prove to be the tighter than bark on a tree. The green shirts better buckle up in the back end and prepare for Zuhd cause those speed demons won't give you a second of their time. Nevertheless, we all know the unlimited capacity netminder Khalid Mufti possesses. He's a game stealer and will add more flavour in this veteran goaltending dual. Will Ikhlas and their Khan's go Bollywood all over Zuhd? Can Farrukh Khan shut down Naeem Akhtar? 

Player To Watch:
He's fast, he's bullheaded and he always finishes his assignments with tenacity. Hi name is Sajid Khan.

Who's Hot?
This is all about the Naeem Akhtar show. The stats speak for themselves.

Tier Two Previews - Week Thirteen - December 12th

Ikhlas vs Haya

The Green Machine was up to their butt kicking antics as they pulverized Shukr to a 4-1 score. The victory crawls Ikhlas within sniffing distance of clinching first place, but that's all contingent on how the Zuhd-Yaqeen results transpire come game day. Ikhlas has gradually sculpted into a contending team headed into the playoffs, hence this battle versus Haya will be a perfect litmus test to evaluate Ikhlas's season long progress. Despite a few hiccups, Khalid Mufti continues to show confidence in net and that's allowed the Green Machine's defensive core to craft "artistic" transitional plays. Will Ikhlas be able to avenge their previous loss to Haya?

Coach K's team has religiously churned out points night after night and continue to rule the tier two roost. It was a close call with Zuhd, but the persistence of Aazar Zafar ultimately paid off as the stud forward actuated his team from a déjàvu loss by the hands of the purple shirts. In their last three games Haya has earned ties and that's raised an eyebrow amongst the critics. Lack of finishing is one reason, but Haya's habit of trailing till the final minutes is a issue that needs attention. Gone are the days where the grey shirts would make a mockery out of each team they played, cause now they've slowly been exposed. Can Haya rectify things before the playoffs start?

Player To Watch:

Ikhlas's unsung hero is Atif Mian. The frisky forward has been a solid patron to the Green Machine's offensive cohort. 

Who's Hot?

Aazar Zafar pulled all the rabbits out of the hat and saved his team's fate by bubbling up a two goal performance. 

Ridha vs Shukr

It was a loss for Ridha to forget and Yaqeen and Shukr to cherish. The Orangemen could've seal the deal but consequently succumbed to a painstaking 2-1 loss. Let's sidetrack the Yaqeen result and focus on this week. Who the heck would've thought that fate has radiated so much value in the final regular season game for both camps. Both teams have their advantages and while I won't side with any of these squads I'll sum it up. Goaltending wins games, and if you have a keeper that can steal games than you're chances of winning are gleamming. Ridha has a point to prove and will exploit Talib Contractor and Farooq Sani to the last drop. GM Zaid Mahmood will have to calm the nerves of his squad and focus on the bigger picture. Yasir Hussain can play under pressure and I can attest to that, but does he have the defence that can bail him out? Will Ridha be able to out muscle Shukr? The Orangemen have had difficulty getting goals so it's time for Imran Lakhanpal and Amad Khan to step it if they wanna see the other side of the rainbow. 

When Yaqeen beat Ridha, GM Ahmad Ibrahim was grinning like the Cheshire cat from Alice in wonderland and man he couldn't stop. I can imagine the emotional roller coaster that Shukr was enduring behind the glass, but now it's game time. Shukr is looking to earn their second win of the season and they'll need everyone's synergy. Climbing that mountain won't be easy when your goal scoring is yearning for some variety but most importantly consistency. Sure there's a lot of hustlers on the Blue Battalion that don't know the meaning of stop but how many of them are intuitive enough to get the job done? The same question applies to Ridha. Netminder Sadiq Rehman's goaltending has been a head scratcher. Sometimes he's awesome and busier than the 401 on a Friday night but sometime you wonder if you should just jump in net. Regardless, if Shukr wants to tango with the big boys then only a win will suffice. I can't explain how monumental the first goal will be in this game. Can Shukr out hustle Ridha? Good luck to both teams!

Player To Watch:

This will be a goaltending campaign for both teams. Let's see what kind of a show can Yasir Hussain and Sadiq Rehman craft out?

Who's Hot

Neither team has ignited anything last game. At the end of this game, one team will be hot. 

Yaqeen vs Zuhd

The Winter Warriors had no business beating Ridha last week, but what could I say, we just couldn't resist. Wearing the spoiler mask, Yaqeen came in full force and had a helping hand as stalwart Abdul Aziz Rasoul and the diligent Furhan Azmat returned to the lineup. While Yaqeen handed the arduous loss to Ridha, cheers from the Shukr team can be heard in the backdrop. Since this game versus Zuhd is merely formalities in concluding the season, expect the Winter Warriors to utilize this winning momentum and refraining Zuhd from evening thinking of clinching first place. Can Kamran Siddiqui and Imdad Ali stump Zuhd's hellbent runners?

Zuhd is a mean team. Not only do they give their opponents hissy fits, their tenacity is the primary reason to their achievements. The purple shirts almost clipped Haya's wings for a second time but swivelled off the winning road and settled for a 3-3 draw. While Naeem Akhtar has soared up the leaderboard, GM Fahad Malik has revived his scoring touch and added some flavour to the assortment of point getters amidst this squad. Zuhd has been paramount upfront and their defense has been tighter than old Mother Hubbard's cupboard. Goaltender Rizwan Ali probably isn't used to this luxury defence and hasn't been occupied as previous seasons. Can Yaqeen keep Rizwan Ali on his heels? Or will Zuhd walk all over Yaqeen again? 

Player To Watch:

Goaltender Saboor Mian played his heart out last game and it's anticipated he'll hit the repeat button versus Zuhd. 

Who's Hot?

Naeem Akhtar looks to build on his points and might take the scoring race crown, unless Yaqeen has better plans. 

Tier Two Previews - Week Twelve - December 5th

Ikhlas vs Shukr

Ikhlas cashes out another week of success at the the expense of Yaqeen's lapses. The Green Machine displayed no mercy scoring three short handed goals and clipping Yaqeen's playoff chances. GM Amir Multani and Atif Mian have been nothing but big bucks for Ikhlas, while Wajahat Khan and Farrukh Khan close the lanes to goaltender Khalid Mufti. Can the green shirts hit the repeat button on Shukr? The Blue Battalions have their backs to walks and are desperate to earn any feasible points. 

The hamster is slowly falling off the wheel for Shukr. Team blue has gradually coasted down the standings and now crave to get back to the scenic side of the fence. Besides Sadiq Rehman, this team needs to put the afterburners on. It's transparent that Rehman was the only person who wanted to make a game out what ensued in Shukr's last stint. Offence is another issue with the blue shirts, cause right now that buck stops at Nadeem Qureshi and Mohamad Hamoud. Can Shukr surprise Ikhlas and snap their 3 game unbeaten streak?

Player To Watch:

The fate of Shukr will be heavily shouldered on Mohamad Hamoud. Can the lanky giant get his team back into the playoff picture?

Who's Hot?

Atif Mian churned out a hearty 3 points last week. 

Ridha vs Yaqeen

Forget about orange juice, it was more like grape juice being served last Friday night as Ridha upset Zuhd in a shifty 4-2 decision. The Orangemen had a pleasant surprise when Zuhd took the opening face off minus Rizwan Ali and were all over that yawning net like a fat kid on a twinkie. This final playoff push for Ridha couldn't have been more critical as another nemesis by the name of Yaqeen awaits. For Yaqeen, it's just about working up a sweat while keeping it respectable. However, Ridha has a different mindset and will give the Winter Warriors a good run for their money. 

Yaqeen is officially out of playoff contention. Despite sipping a few leads against Ikhlas, Yaqeen royally choked and got lashed in a 6-2 decision. What appeared to be the best roster on paper has management wondering; what went wrong? Yaqeen will now look to play spoilers against Ridha and anticipate avenging their previous 4-2 loss against the orange shirts. Revenge would be sweet, but to beat Ridha during their urgency would be even sweeter. Can Saboor Mian steal the show versus orange?

Player To Watch:

GM Abbas Amarshi has been tough on the blue line and will give Ridha forwards a nasty greeting. 

Who's Hot?

Bilal Alvi was one of the prime factors in Ridha's upset win. The young lad picked up a goal and an assist. 

Zuhd vs Haya

Zuhd got shell shocked after losing to Ridha and will shake the loss off like a bad nightmare. The high octane team faces the Misty Marauders and anticipate snatching first place from under Haya's noses. The previous match between the two had a total of 13 goals and was see-saw affair of offensive power houses. This Friday will also feature two gentlemen battling for the scoring title; Naeem Akhtar and Waseem Bangash. GM Fahad Malik was on a roll last week and pumped out two goals for his squad. Does Zuhd have the booksmarts to overthrow Haya? Can Rizwan Ali shutdown Coach K's posse?

Haya is coming off a tough 1-1 draw from a few weeks back and is perhaps having nightmares of Shukr's keeper, Sadiq Rehman. Yes, the diminutive goaltender left Haya dazed as he retracted a whooping 20 shots. This week, the grey shirts have a mission and that's asserting first place. A win over Zuhd not only plays vengeance but embodies much value to the confidence of Haya, now that the playoff aura seeps in. Can Mehmed Rizwanovic and Ali Murtaza lead the charge against the Purple Platoons? 

Player To Watch:

Aazar Zafar has been a crucial pillar to Haya's identity. Fluent in defence and offends, expect Aazar to get the job done this week. 

Who's Hot?

As mentioned, GM Fahad Malik seems like he reclaimed his offensive prowess with those 2 goals from last week.