Afghanistan Embassy overpower Iran Embassy 3-2 in final of 16 team show
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Embassy team have won the title of the Gerrys Diplomatic Football League Season 7 after beating the Iran Embassy in the final after a nerve-jangling contest 3-2 here at Mini Football Ground, Islamabad club. The Qatar Embassy team secured third place by defeating the SB Royal team in penalties in a third-position play-off after the match ended 5-5 draw.
Afghan Ambassador in Islamabad Sardar Mohammad Shakib visited the ground to enjoy the final. Also, Nabi Shirazi DHM Iran Embassy, Sheldon Godinho COO Gerry’s Visa among other diplomats and guests were present on this occasion.
According to an official, as many as 16 soccer teams from sixteen embassies from 28 different nationalities. The participating players in the teams were ambassadors, diplomats, local staff, and students. The Gerry’s Diplomatic League matches were played for almost 4 months in which teams were divided into two groups of eight and then the top four teams qualified for the knock-out stages. The matches were played during the weekends at Mini football ground, Islamabad Club.
The League was supervised by Mubasher Sanjrani, the founder, organizer of the prestigious league, and the former International footballer and futsal player of Pakistan. The League sponsors for season 7 were Gerrys Visas with title sponsors, SB Sadiq Group with Power sponsor, Sanjrani Oxen, Royal Business Solutions, Alamco Duty Free, and East West Insurance Company.
The Diplomatic Football League is one of the most anticipated Football League in Islamabad for the diplomatic community, which provides healthy activity to the participating teams along with a positive soft image of the friendly environment in Pakistan while bringing different nationalities together.