KARACHI -
ANISUDDIN KHAN - Federal minister Faisal Saleh Hayat, president of Pakistan Football Federation did not attend the opening of the prestigious National  Football Challenge Cup when he was advised to stay away for security reasons from the KPT stadium where  the sixteen team championship kicked off here on Sunday.
According to reliable information available Faisal Saleh Hayat who allegedly has earned anger of the footballers of the Lyari neighbourhood which is just couple of kilometers away from the KPT stadium was advised not to attend the opening for security reasons.
It is pertinent to mention that during the last four years the footballers of Lyari area had felt that they were ignored in the national selection or in the province of Sindh. However other senior officials of the PFF and the president of the Sindh Football Association Syed Khadim Ali Shah were present at the opening of the championship which carries lucrative cash prizes for the participating teams.
It is to be mentioned that in the past Pakistan Army team had refused to play at the venue for the security reasons as well.
In the opening fixture of the championship on Sunday KPT defeated Pakistan Steel 3-0 with Muhammad bin Younus scoring all the three goals. First two with field efforts and the third one converting a penalty kick. KPT is hosting the championship as part of the celebration of its 125th year of existence. The participating teams have been divided into four groups with top two team from each group moving into the knock out quarter finals. In the meantime it has been learnt that Asghar Sugar Mills Bahawalpur has withdrawn from the contest at the last minute thus making the event a fifteen team affair.