Sport

Attack Energy’s flawless run ends in an ACL triumph

Published

3 weeks ago

May 22, 2024

(Last Updated On: )

Herat’s pride and joy, Attack Energy FC, clinched the sought-after Afghanistan Champions League trophy in Kabul on Wednesday for the second season in a row after putting on a spectacular show over the last month by winning all of their 11 matches.

In the last match of the season on Wednesday, Attack Energy FC kept up their winning streak when they beat Adalat Farah FC 2-0.

Ending with a whopping 41 goals in total, the Herat boys were clear winners.

But it wasn’t just their attack strategy that was on point, their defense was also a cut above the rest as they ensured none of their opponents scored a single goal against them.

Attack Energy’s win comes after an exhilarating month of top-class football and to top it all off, the team’s captain Faisal Hamidi was handed the trophy by football officials.

Lifting the trophy in the air he then ran towards his teammates and jumped for joy. The team joined in and cheers and whoops of joy abounded. Attack Energy’s hard work had certainly paid off.

This was the third season of ACL and once again it proved hugely popular among football fans across the country, who were able to tune in and watch all matches live and exclusively on Ariana Television.

Twelve teams participated in this year’s league, which started on April 20 and ran through to Wednesday, May 22.

Matches were played at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul and the league was sponsored by Victor Energy Drink.

Together, the Afghanistan Football Federation, Victor Energy Drink and Ariana Television Network delivered a thrilling month of top class football. In total, 66 games were played over 33 days. Players were drawn from different regions around the country along with foreign players who came in from Iran, Pakistan and Nigeria.

The teams were:
Istiqlal Kabul FC
Khurasan Faryab FC
Sorkh Poshan Khafi
Abu Muslim Farah FC
Jawanan Wahedi FC
Khadim FC
Maiwand FC
Aino Mina FC
Mawj Sahil FC
Attack Energy FC
Adalat Farah FC
Sarsabz Yashlar FC

Aino Mina’s Ahmad Nabi Muqdaz was top scorer of the tournament. He was not however available to collect his award, which was handed over to the head of the Kandahar Football Federation Nasir Rahmani, in Muqdaz’s absence.

Hamid Amiri from Sarkh Poshan Khafi won best player of the tournament; Faisal Hamidi of Herat’s Attack Energy won the golden glove and the best goalie award with 11 clean sheets and an unbeaten season.

Mawj Sahil’s goal-oriented player Esmat Hadafmand won the young talent award and Ali Ahmad Yarzadeh, the successful head coach and the record holder of an unbeaten championship in the Afghanistan Champions League, won the award for the best head coach.

Speaking to Ariana News after the closing ceremony, Attack Energy’s Club Manager said he was thrilled at his team’s win. He also took the time to thank organizers and sponsors for having made the event possible.

“I really thank Ariana Television for broadcasting ACL matches. The broadcast by Ariana Television was brilliant. I congratulate the victory of Attack Energy for all fans across Afghanistan,” he said.

Attack Energy’s foreign player, Behnam Habibi, who is from Iran, also spoke to Ariana Television after their win. He said he was overjoyed.

“I am very happy. I cannot describe my feelings in words. I’m really thankful to Ariana Television for good coverage. The broadcasting by Ariana Television was outstanding. Everything was perfect.”

Fans also came out in support of Attack Energy’s win with social media buzzing with messages of congratulations.

One fan, Amanyar, said on Facebook: “Congratulations to the deserving team of Herat Energy Attack. They really proved that they deserve this championship.”

A Herat fan, Karim Sarwari also congratulated the team in a post on Facebook and said the trophy “returns to Herat”. He added that “it (the trophy) doesn’t want to leave Herat.”

Related Topics:#ACl #َAfghanistan #AttackEnergy #Champions ArianaNews featured

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Kabul Zalmi defeated Band-e-Amir Stars by 7 wickets in the final on Friday and won the championship title of the City Medical Complex Kabul Premier League 2024.

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Kabul Zalmi chased down the target by 7 wickets in 18.5 overs and won the second edition of the tournament.

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Afghanistan beat Papua New Guinea by seven wickets in Trinidad on Thursday to reach the Super Eight stage of the Twenty20 World Cup with a game to spare and end New Zealand’s slim hopes of progressing.

The Afghans had already effectively eliminated New Zealand after defeating them by 84 runs in Georgetown, and on Thursday they confirmed that they pose a threat to any opponent with another accomplished all-round display.

Spearheaded by standout left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi, the Afghan bowlers kept opponents under 100 runs for the third time in their three matches in the tournament, dismissing the Papuans, who had four batsmen run out, for 95.

Penetrating bowling from Alei Nao and Semo Kamea on a lively surface ensured the run chase was not straightforward but Gulbadin Naib’s 49 from 36 deliveries steered the Afghans safely to their target at 101-3 inside 16 overs.

“I want to congratulate all the people of Afghanistan because we have now officially qualified for the Super Eight and I feel proud,” said Farooqi, who was named Player of the Match for his 3-16.

“We just keep it simple and give 100%.”

After Rashid Khan had won the toss and opted to field first, his opposite number Assad Vala was the first man dismissed, run out for three after committing the elementary error of making his ground but leaving his bat in the air.

Farooqi, the tournament’s leading wicket taker, increased his tally by two from consecutive balls and Naveen-ul-Haq struck immediately from the other end to reduce Papua New Guinea to 17 for four.

Rashid and his left-arm wrist spinning partner Noor Ahmad took over after the power play, consistently bamboozling the batsmen as they swung hopefully but ineffectually at the ball.

The result was a second run out with both batsmen stranded at the same end and it was Chad Soper (9) who was forced to leave.

A third run out followed when Norman Vanua departed for a duck when his bat got stuck in the pitch as he tried to slide it past the crease.

Kiplin Doriga offered some resistance, hitting two fours to reach 27, but almost inevitably the innings ended with a final runout when Semo Kamea (2) was stranded with a ball remaining.

Papua New Guinea struck swiftly, dismissing openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (11) and Ibrahim Zadran (0), who had shared century partnerships against Uganda and New Zealand.

But Naib and Mohammad Nabi calmed their team’s nerves by rotating the strike with a series of quick singles, taking Afghanistan past the 50 mark when they began to play more expansively, Naib ending the match in style with a six.

The Afghans progressed along with co-hosts West Indies, who they meet in their final round-robin match in St Lucia on Monday to decide who tops Group C.

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