First 50-games for Pakistan Premier League

Khan Research Laboratories scored a narrow 1-0 win over Panther FC in the 50th match of the 12-team Pakistan Premier Football League on Wednesday in Faisalabad, the Pakistan Football Federation reported.

Meantime, Pakistan’s star footballer Mohammad Essa has called for the establishment of a football academy in Pakistan and said all major football clubs in the country should come forward to support and encourage young, upcoming players.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Times, 24-year-old Essa praised the Pakistan Football Federation for bringing merit in the selection of the national team but acknowledged that Afghan football club Chaman was paying him Rs 175,000 to play professionally for them over 22 matches and two Indian football clubs – East Bengal and JST – had offered him the opportunity to play in the Indian football season.