KARACHI-Thar Foundation in collaboration with Diya Women Football Club (DWFC) concluded the 2nd All-Sindh Inter District Mixed football tournament of under-16 females and under-13 males playing together for the first time.
The 7-a-side tournament was hosted in Thar Block II, with the final being played in Mirpurkhas. The 8 teams participating hailed from Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Khairpur, Sukkar, Mirpukhas and Tharparkar.
The trophy was lifted by the Karachi Royals after winning 1-0 against Khairpur Knights in the final in Mirpurkhas and the Highest Goal-Scorer of the tournament was awarded to Ali Shan of Karachi Royals with 11 goals in total throughout the four-day football tournament.
The Best Goalkeeper was awarded to Ibrahim Khan and the Best Defender was awarded to Javeria Ejaz, both from Karachi. The award for Best Midfielder was given to Alishba Khan from Khairpur and the Best Striker was awarded to Hamza Ali from Mirpurkhas.
Sabeen Shah from Thar Foundation who spearheaded the tournament said: “This is the first-time children from Thar are playing together as one team with other mixed teams from Sindh. It makes us so proud to see the spirit and love for the sport in these young souls and the progress displayed by their families in encouraging them to play”.
The finale was graced by MPA Hariram Kishori Lal Sahib, Additional Commissioner Mirpurkhas Ali Nawaz Bhout and Ambassador and Promoter of Technical and Vocational Education Waheeda Mahesar, as chief guests who acknowledged the efforts of Thar Foundation in creating a platform for the children to showcase their skills through their favorite sport.
“It’s been such a magnificent tournament; and to watch our kids play with such passion is something that pushes us to create more avenues for their empowerment in the future as well,” said Sadia Sheikh, Founder and G. Secretary of Diya Women Football Club.
Naseer Memon, Head of Thar Foundation commented, “Breaking the gender barrier became the natural cause of this tournament where boys and girls can play together as one team. Thar Foundation in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework of the United Nation, always focuses on pushing quality education and gender empowerment for the children of Thar. And by creating such opportunities for the children of Thar, we enable them to freely express their passion through extra-curricular activities as well.
The football tournament was appreciated and welcomed by huge number of crowds coming from all over Sindh to cheer and support their respective districts.
