WAPDA Lahore Football Club serves as the football section of Water & Power Development Authority. It is based in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The club used to compete in the National Football Championship and Pakistan Premier League. The club regularly participates in the PFF National Challenge Cup.
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| Full name | Water & Power Development Authority Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Watermen | |||
| Short name | WAP | |||
| Founded | 1983 | |||
| Ground | Punjab Stadium, Lahore[1] | |||
| Capacity | 15,000 | |||
| Chairman | Munawar Malik | |||
| Manager | Tanveer Ahmed | |||
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WAPDA has been Pakistan champions 8 times, winning four titles in the Pakistan Premier League. They won their first league title in 1983, beating Habib Bank, and repeated this in 1991.[2] In 2001, they overcame Khan Research Laboratories to win their third title, and retained their title in 2003 against Pakistan Army.[2] In 2004 in the revamped Pakistan Premier League, they became the inaugural champions when they pushed Pakistan Army into the second spot in the final-day decider.[2]
Their biggest achievement came in 2007–08 when they finished the season unbeaten after defeating Pakistan Army on the final day. They are the only Pakistani club to finish the season unbeaten and earning the title of Invincibles.[2]
History
editThe club was founded in 1983 and subsequently won its first trophy in the National Football Championship the same year.[2][3] The club won most trophies in 2000s, winning the league five times.[2]
WAPDA's first ever Asian competition appearance was in 1991 Asian Club Championship, where they lost 5–0 to Dhaka Mohammedan SC away, and drew 0–0 at home, thus losing 5–0 on aggregate. They represented Pakistan in the AFC President's Cup 2005, losing both of their games against Blue Star SC and Hello United and defeated Dordoi Bishkek 1–0 in their last group stage match as they were knocked-out of out the group stages. The club's next appearance in Asian competition was in 2008 AFC President's Cup, where once again they finished at bottom of their group, drawing one and losing two matches. In 2009 AFC President's Cup, WAPDA finished second in their group and qualified for semi-finals after being the best second-placed in the tournament, WAPDA faced their group-mate Regar-TadAZ in the semi-finals, WAPDA lost 4–3 at extra-time. Club's last Asian appearance was in 2011 AFC President's Cup, where they finished third in their group and were knocked out.
Following the domestic football revamp in the country in 2023, departmental clubs including WAPDA remained competing in the PFF National Challenge Cup.[4][5]
Honours
editDomestic
edit- National Football Championship
- Winners (4): 1983, 1991, 2001, 2003
- Quaid-i-Azam Shield:
- Winners (1): 1992
Performance in AFC competitions
edit- Asian Club Championship: 1 appearance
- 1992: Qualifying - 1st round
- AFC President's Cup: 4 appearances
Notable players
editReferences
edit- ^ "Football Grounds in Pakistan | Football Ground Map". Archived from the original on 2019-10-17. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ a b c d e f g Express, Tribune (13 December 2010). "WAPDA clinch Pakistan Premier League". Express Tribune. Natasha Raheel. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ "Pakistan - Foundation Dates of Clubs". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ Wasim, Umaid (2023-01-25). "Domestic football returns as Challenge Cup kicks off". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ "PFF National Challenge Cup kicks off today". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-30.