After Week Nine here are the Divisional Standings:
| MECCA | |||||||||
| RANK | TEAM | GP | WINS | LOSSES | TIES | POINTS | GF | GA | GD |
| 1 | Haya | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 27 | 12 | 15 |
| 2 | Emaan | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 25 | 19 | 6 |
| 3 | Ikhlas | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 20 | 30 | -10 |
| 4 | Taqwa | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 22 | -8 |
| MEDINA | |||||||||
| RANK | TEAM | GP | WINS | LOSSES | TIES | POINTS | GF | GA | GD |
| 1 | Yaqeen | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 21 | 16 | 5 |
| 2 | Sabr | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 19 | 21 | -2 |
| 3 | Ridha | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 23 | 22 | 1 |
| 4 | Ihsan | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 20 | -8 |
- Check out the Media Teams review of Week Nine and preview of Week Ten along with the recent trades here.
- Taqwa came in knowing that they had to defeat Haya to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, a tight physical game saw them lose 1-0 to the league leaders but they represented themselves well putting up some good efforts of late and can keep their heads up. The early season slump that saw them lose their first five games and while the initial adjustments did not help the late season moves put the pieces in the right spots to make the team competitive.
- For the Taqwa players that hung around they got to watch Ikhlas drop their fifth game in a row meaning that had they won they would have had a great chance to slide into the final playoff spot in Week Ten.
- The Ihsan vs Ridha game was billed as the game of the night with the winner getting the upper hand on the final playoff spot in the Medina division. Ridha came out flying and built up a 2-0 lead at the half and 3-0 early in the second before Ihsan broke the shutout but it was not enough as Ridha took the win.
- At the end of October many had written off Ridha as not being able to turn their season around which was capped with a humbling loss to winless Taqwa by a 4-2 score. Many observers kept speculating that GM Farooq Sani would have to break up his team to turn things around but aside from sacrificing close friend Talib Contractor when he grabbed Mehmed Rizvanovic the big moves didn't come - what did has been a November to Remember. Ridha is now on a three game winning streak and in control of the final playoff spot in the Medina division with amazingly a chance to jump into second place if they defect Sabr in Week Ten. When asked for comment after his big win last week Sani replied "Bet on yourself" and walked away.
- Haya has indicated that they may have many players resting for tonights game, but after floating those rumours last week before their game against Taqwa where they pretty much had a full lineup many are wondering if this is more gamesmanship from the League Leaders.
- After a successful stint as a correspondent for I-Slam Media, word is that Khizer Lakhanpal is considering taking that role up for the rest of the playoffs.
- Sabr has struggled of late after many expected them to be a top team this season. After going undefeated in their first five games they are now winless in their last four games. They were missing guys in the opening season run so hard to pin that as the excuse but one insider noted that their depth has been impacted by the absence of Emad Hussain who was carrying the second line and averaged a point a game before missing the last four games while travelling for work.
- After a crushing loss to Ridha, Ihsan now has the slimmest of hopes to make the post-season where they need to defeat Yaqeen while Sabr needs to defeat Ridha but within that the goal difference between the teams needs to a swing by nine goals. So possible but not probable.
- The scoring race will be settled tonight, Arif Khan is the leading goalscorer with 10 goals in nine games and is hoping to lock that up tonight against Taqwa - who traded him away early in the season and will surely do their best to lock him up. For the points leader race Khan is second with 16 points and tied with Abdul Manjra of Yaqeen, both trailing Yusuf Ingar of Emaan who has 17 points. With Manjra going up against Ihsan who sits in last in the Medina division and Khan/Ingar face eliminated Taqwa so while some may expect a goal-fest it will depend upon the pride of Taqwa and Ihsan to avoid getting blown out.
- If you have not had a chance to watch it yet, check out the new Player Profile Video of Aadil Chohan here which has been getting rave reviews. Some players in the East end who watched it were impressed and have indicated that they may want to participate in the next season so look for some new faces in the new year.
- As we approach the playoffs some more details on the format that GMs are already aware of. November 29th will see the 2nd vs 3rd place games for each division at 8pm and 9pm, the winners will advance and play a second time that night in Game One of the Semi-Finals against the 1st place team in their respective division. December 6th will table up Game Two of each Divisions Semi-Final while December 13th and 20th will feature Game One and Game Two of the finals with the champion crowned on December 20th.
- Reminder that while Eye Protection is not mandatory this season it is strongly urged that all players ensure to protect themselves. There were some injuries last season where deflected balls hit players in the face and could have resulted in a serious injury to the eye. Please take the time to consider your own personal safety and wear the appropriate eye protection.
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