- Finally Ikhlas got their first win! Zayd Agjee had some nerves making his season debut after replacing Rahil Ahmad and it showed as the very first shot he faced from Saajid Bhayat beat him to put his team down a goal less than two minutes into the game. However, he quickly re-grouped and he held his ground long enough for Shehryar Khan, recognized as the 1st Star for Week Eight, to lead the charge at the other end. The win was huge as it saw Ikhlas jump out into the last playoff spot after being in last since the start of the season.
- The pressure is now on Sabr to get their first win, they've been hanging onto the last playoff spot all season but their three ties are not going to get this team to the playoffs. Things just got difficult for them as Imran Merchant, their goaltender will no longer be with the team (personal). With rosters now frozen, Sabr will have to rely on replacement goaltenders in which they can only use three times for their remaining games. Either that or they might have to consider putting one of their roster players in net for some games. They did this in a loss to Haya tossing Mubashir Malik in net. Nonetheless they are massive underdogs coming into the home stretch of the regular season
- With only a few games left in the season it will be unwise to leave points on the board. With that in mind we salute Atif Mian, recognized as the 2nd Star for Week Eight, who somehow convinced his wife and family that he needed step out of a wedding they were at to play in Emaan’s game and as soon as the final buzzer sounded he returned to the reception. He helped Emaan secure a 3-1 win over Haya who were missing some of their better plays; an amazing demonstration of polar opposites where one player displayed amazing commitment to his team whereas many Haya players abandoned their team in a game that could have helped them gain a first round bye in the playoffs.
- The above point could also be said for Shukr as they earned the dubious honour last week of being the first team to lose to Ikhlas this season. The game was viewed as a battle between embattled coaches and Belal Hafeez can still hold his head up finally guiding his team to a win, the same cannot be said for Coach K who has his team on a two game slide and falling in the standings.
- Speaking of Shukr - An incorrect tweet was sent out during the week. Zaid Majoo (Ihsan), Ahmad Mobin (Emaan) and Yusuf Kapoor (Yaqeen) are all tied for the league lead in shutouts - each one of them getting their donuts from Shukr.
- The pressure is now on Sabr to get their first win, they've been hanging onto the last playoff spot all season but their three ties are not going to get this team to the playoffs. Things just got difficult for them as Imran Merchant, their goaltender will no longer be with the team (personal). With rosters now frozen, Sabr will have to rely on replacement goaltenders in which they can only use three times for their remaining games. Either that or they might have to consider putting one of their roster players in net for some games. They did this in a loss to Haya tossing Mubashir Malik in net. Nonetheless they are massive underdogs coming into the home stretch of the regular season
- With only a few games left in the season it will be unwise to leave points on the board. With that in mind we salute Atif Mian, recognized as the 2nd Star for Week Eight, who somehow convinced his wife and family that he needed step out of a wedding they were at to play in Emaan’s game and as soon as the final buzzer sounded he returned to the reception. He helped Emaan secure a 3-1 win over Haya who were missing some of their better plays; an amazing demonstration of polar opposites where one player displayed amazing commitment to his team whereas many Haya players abandoned their team in a game that could have helped them gain a first round bye in the playoffs.
- The above point could also be said for Shukr as they earned the dubious honour last week of being the first team to lose to Ikhlas this season. The game was viewed as a battle between embattled coaches and Belal Hafeez can still hold his head up finally guiding his team to a win, the same cannot be said for Coach K who has his team on a two game slide and falling in the standings.
- Speaking of Shukr - An incorrect tweet was sent out during the week. Zaid Majoo (Ihsan), Ahmad Mobin (Emaan) and Yusuf Kapoor (Yaqeen) are all tied for the league lead in shutouts - each one of them getting their donuts from Shukr.
- Much has been made of Ikhlas finally getting their first win but coming into the game against Shukr last week the pressure was clearly getting to Ikhlas GM and Captain Shehryar Khan who had a less than cordial pre-game media session. Fielding numerous questions on the state of his team, Khan ended the session by yelling "Trust the process!" before storming out. While a win does not erase the six-game winless run to start the season, it does vault them into a playoff spot so a step in the right direction.
- Ihsan continues to generate goals throughout their lineup: Amad Khan, recognized as the 3rd Star for Week Eight, netted the game-winner against Yaqeen. The lost was costly for Yaqeen in their hopes of finishing first overall.
- Ahmad Ibrahim of Shukr continues to be on the IR, but you know that win, lose, draw or injured the post-game shisha parties are always on. While his initial claims of staying in shape were that he is still "lifting" seemed to boost the hope that he would be back in form when he returns, the details which came out later that he was lifting his shisha pipe seemed to deflate the hopes of Shukr brass about what to expect from their power forward when he is able to play again.
- Ihsan continues to generate goals throughout their lineup: Amad Khan, recognized as the 3rd Star for Week Eight, netted the game-winner against Yaqeen. The lost was costly for Yaqeen in their hopes of finishing first overall.
- Ahmad Ibrahim of Shukr continues to be on the IR, but you know that win, lose, draw or injured the post-game shisha parties are always on. While his initial claims of staying in shape were that he is still "lifting" seemed to boost the hope that he would be back in form when he returns, the details which came out later that he was lifting his shisha pipe seemed to deflate the hopes of Shukr brass about what to expect from their power forward when he is able to play again.
- No word why Huzaifa Manjra of Haya decided to show up for his game as a spectator. Players from Emaan noted that Manjra appeared in the stands in street clothes and seemed uninterested in helping his team - if he was injured he could have at least coached his team. His teammate Aazar Zafar finally got burnt after playing with fire the entire season as by the time he made his way to the bench Haya was trailing 1-0. Zafar routinely joins his team after the game has already started but in this game with his team already missing key players it put his team on their heels early.
- After taking over the goal-scoring lead from Hany Soliman, Yaqeen’s Humza Chaudhry has been at the top of the leader board as he is tied with Waqar Khan of Emaan but has a game in hand. With Emaan on a bye-week for Week Nine, Chaudhry has a chance to gain sole possession.
- Based upon the standings after Week Eight, Ihsan and Emaan have both clinched playoff spots as neither Ikhlas or Sabr can pass them regardless of what happens the rest of the way.
- In a scheduling quirk, Shukr will end their season by next week, December 9th. For them to feel safe and have some control over their own fate, they will need to grab at least two points in their final games against Haya and Ihsan. Assuming they do hold onto a playoff spot, Shukr will be off for more than a month - a lot of shisha can be passed around during that time and we know that Ahmad Ibrahim always has his game face on for that!
- Unconfirmed reports are out that Yasir Hussain will be in net for Sabr tonight against first place Ihsan.
- After taking over the goal-scoring lead from Hany Soliman, Yaqeen’s Humza Chaudhry has been at the top of the leader board as he is tied with Waqar Khan of Emaan but has a game in hand. With Emaan on a bye-week for Week Nine, Chaudhry has a chance to gain sole possession.
- Based upon the standings after Week Eight, Ihsan and Emaan have both clinched playoff spots as neither Ikhlas or Sabr can pass them regardless of what happens the rest of the way.
- In a scheduling quirk, Shukr will end their season by next week, December 9th. For them to feel safe and have some control over their own fate, they will need to grab at least two points in their final games against Haya and Ihsan. Assuming they do hold onto a playoff spot, Shukr will be off for more than a month - a lot of shisha can be passed around during that time and we know that Ahmad Ibrahim always has his game face on for that!
- Unconfirmed reports are out that Yasir Hussain will be in net for Sabr tonight against first place Ihsan.
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