Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Lahore: KRL (Khan Research Laboratories) Football Club successfully defended Pakistan Premier League title on Wednesday after taking an unassailable lead at the top of the league following their 3-0 victory over Pakistan Army.
After the completion of the penultimate round, KRL have 68 points – five clear of KESC who are on par with former AFC President’s Cup participants WAPDA with 63 points with a match in hand.
The newly crowned champions KRL will face KESC this weekend in their final match of the domestic campaign.
“I am really happy that after some ups and downs we finally completed the hat-trick of titles,” KRL coach Tariq Lutfi was quoted as saying by ‘The News’ after the match.
The title triumph of KRL is third in row after they won the league titles in 2011 and 2012.
“It was a tough league this year. Our performance was down initially. The pressure was on me and on the boys,” Lutfi, who ensured KRL’s runner-up finish in last year’s AFC President’s Cup final, added.
The victory also put KRL in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President’s Cup 2014, the group stage of which will be held in May followed by the finals in September.