KP XI stun Chinese Embassy in fetival soccer

ABBOTTABAD: Center striker and skipper of Director General Sports KP XI Ijaz Ahmad’s two quick goals rallies guided his team to a 5-3 thrilling victory against strong Chinese Embassy XI team in a festival football match played at Army Burn-Hall School and College Abbottabad ground here.

Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan HE Yao Jing, MPA Nighat Orakzai, former health Minister KP Syed Zahir Ali Shah, DG Sports KP Junaid Khan, Principal Army Burn-Hall School and College Abbottabad Brigadier Wajid Qayyum, DPO Abbottabad Ashfaq Anwar, good number of Chinese Engineers working currently on going CPEC mega project and large number of spectators were also present and witnessed the thrill-packed match.

Before the start of the matches the National Anthems of Pakistan and China were presented, followed by introduction of the both the team with Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan HE Yao Jing and other guests. It was for the first time in the history of the province that such an exhibition football match played between DG Sports KP XI and the Islamabad based Chinese Embassy XI teams organized by Malik Saad Shaheed Sports Trust. The match was started with incisive rallies of attack from both ends.

The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad XI team raided first with Sun Kai along with Zhang Liang and center striker Qin Wanggen made a fine inroad but DG Spots KP goal-keeper Naeem Beg intercepted the forceful kick of Qin Wanggen nicely toward the sideline.

It was very good goal-fetching move but thanks to Naeem Beg who rescued his team with spectacular interception. Chinese Embassy XI team put in more pressure to take the lead and they were succeeded in it when skipper Hile Jiang Han slammed in a beautiful goal from the top of the box area. The early goal lead gave more strength to the Chinese Embassy XI team and they raided with some more fine moves.

On the other hand DG Sports KP XI team despite conceding a goal managed their position and soon found the equalizer when right winger Hamza netted a fine goal to make the tally 1-1.

When both the teams were tied 1-1 they raided on each other defence with some attacking moves were also witnessed. For DG Sports KP left winger Malik Abdullah and inner striker Sher Khan scored one goal each in the 13th and 19th minute through field attempts to make the tally 3-1. On the other hand the Chinese Embassy XI struggled hard to get the control of the ball position and thus they were succeeded with flair distribution of passes.

It was in the 28th minute when right winger Hong Yuan slammed in a beautiful goal on the field attempt to make the tally 3-2. At half-time DG Sports KP XI was leading by 3-2. It was the second session in which the Chinese Embassy XI team forwards were looking more combine, making incisive rallies of attacks as a result Zhang Dong scored a superb goal from the long distance to make the tally 3-3.

When the teams were tied 3-3 both the strikers made some good attacking moves and received thundering applauses from the sitting spectators, including Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan HE Yao Jing.

This was DG Sports XI skipper Ijaz Ahmad who came from behind and slammed in two quick goals in the 57th and 64th minute to make the tally 5-3, thus giving his team a vital win against strong Chinese Embassy XI team in a friendly outing.

The Chinese football team Captain, Jiang Hon said that their team has also enjoy the traditional hospitality of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is his utmost effort, he said that his team played well but the DG XI team played well and won the match. DG Sports XI Ijaz Ahmad on this occasion said that they have played well and certainly it was good experience for his team competed against a foreign team.

He said, we were confident to perform best of our abilities and displayed a fine match. Because of such like matches, he added, friendships would further cement and this is a one of the best opportunities for the people of Hazara Division in particular to contribute their visible role in taking the Pak China Friendship to new horizons. The Ambassador of China, Yao Jing lauded the efforts of the organizing committee for holding the friendly match by involving players from China and Pakistan. He expressed pleasure over organizing the match between Football teams and hoped that the sports event would help bring Pakistan and China more closer. He said that the football team members and other diplomats and officials of the Chinese Embassy were feeling very comfortable in pleasant atmosphere of Abbottabad. Describing Abbottabad as gateway to Pak-China bilateral cooperation, he said we expect further strengthening of friendly relations between the two countries. He added that the match also demonstrates cordial relations between the masses of both the countries.

Speaking on the occasion Secretary MSST, Amjad Aziz Malik said that sportsmen of KP have also initiated promotion of bilateral relations with China by playing the first friendly football match with Chinese Embassy. He assured that MSST would continue to offer opportunities for further strengthening the Pak-China cooperation and relations. He hoped that government of KP and China will pave way for exchange of different sports teams in future.

CHINESE EMBASSY XI: Hile Jiang Han (captain), Jiang Han, Jiang Qingshi, Sun Kai, Zhang Liang, Qin Wanggen, Wang Yang, Xu Wei, Zhang Dong, Ding Xuelong, Tang Jingfeng, Zhao Xuelong, Mei Jing, Zhang Chengjin, Li De, Hong Yuan, Huan Jie, Zhang Ming and Li Hang.

DG SPORTS XI: Ijaz Ahmad (captain), Naeem Beg (Goal-keeper), Sulaiman Khan, Adil Khan, Sadam, Hamza Shabbir, Saifullah, Shahid, Hafiz Sajjad, Fakhar, Sher Khan, Mujahid and Aftab. Saeed Khan, Maj Zulfiqar, Khalid Javaid, Niaz Khan, Fayaz Shams, Atif Khan, Wasif Khan and Cheema were the officials of the match.