By Israr Ahmad Orakzai
HANGU: Hangu Club defeated the Kurram team 5-4 on penalties in a closely fought football final organized by the Tall Scouts as part of Independence Day celebrations at Tall Cantonment.
The final, featuring the top team from Kurram district and the winning team from Hangu district, remained goalless during regulation time. The match was eventually decided by penalty kicks, with Tall Mujahid Green securing a 5-4 victory.
GOC 9 Division Major General Shahid Amir Afsar, Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), attended the event as chief guest and distributed prizes and cash awards among the players and organisers. Gifts were also presented to children from the minority community.
Tall Scouts Brigade Commander Brigadier Alamgir Yousafzai and newly appointed Commandant Colonel Muhammad Adeel Ahmed welcomed the guests. Former MPA Mufti Syed Janan, Hazrat Mian Hussain Jalali, minority community leaders and a large number of children and spectators attended the event.
Hundreds of spectators watched the match and cheered both teams for their performance. Addressing the players and audience, Major General Shahid Amir Afsar congratulated the nation on Independence Day and said young people were the country’s most valuable asset. He stressed the need for their character-building, proper training and education that prepared them for the challenges of the modern world.
He said Independence Day was a reminder of the sacrifices and struggles of previous generations and an opportunity to renew the commitment to unity and service to the country.
The GOC said young people should be encouraged to take part in healthy activities, adding that sports could bring positive changes in attitudes and behaviour. He said peace, development and prosperity remained the country’s ultimate goals and could be achieved with the support of the people.
