Singhs, Kaurs of Akaal Premier League battle for supremacy

| Jagdesh Singh | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 5 Nov 2015 | Asia Samachar

The timing couldn’t have been better. The dreaded haze that has enveloped the whole of Malaysia over the past few weeks cleared away for the Singhs and Kaurs of the Akaal Premier League (APL) to battle for their team’s supremacy. Sunday, 11 Nov 2015, was Match Day 3 and the action kicked off from the first game and never subsided throughout.

Opening match was a tough encounter between the current team to beat, the Akaal Warriors from Rawang and the Lions of Kampung Pandan. Akaal Warriors remain unbeaten in the tournament thus far, four impressive wins and look the part as incumbent champions that need to be unseated by the rest of the teams. They indeed lived up to the name they’ve carved out since Match Day 1 and opened the score sheet for the day. Surprisingly, the Lions held on to the lead by half time with a 3-2 score line with the Warriors already missing their engine room in the shape of Harveer Singh who was red-carded. He will be missing the next two games. The game ended with a shocking 5-4 win to the Warriors, now already becoming typical with their never die attitude and temerity. We are told that the Lions biggest and ever present supporter –  Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Kampung Pandan committee president – was absent to witness this thrilling match, due to the concurrent AGM proceedings at the gurdwara.

The second match of the day was between the Twin Lions of Bukit Beruntung and the Panthers of Titiwangsa. The Panthers were on the prowl for their first win of the tournament, down with a point as the game started. Unfortunately for them, the Twin Lions were as merciless, winning the game with a 2-1 scoreline, their captain Pritirdev Singh celebrating his fabulous winning goal with an even more epic somersault.

The next game followed with the Kings of Iron River and the Lions of Kampung Pandan pitting their wits and strength against each other. Much like the Panthers before, the Kings were also searching for their first win of the tournament. Alas, they majestically notched their first convincing win against the Lions. They inched closer to their now rivals, the Lions, in the table standings.

Match 4 was a must win encounter for keeping their challenge alive at the top of the table with both the Eagles of Pulapol and the Twin Lions vying for attention and crucial points to keep the heat on the Akaal Warriors. At 1-1, with tough tackles rampant, one of the Twin Lion defenders was red-carded for handling the ball. With a man down, the Twin Lions still roared and fought on. The Eagles didn’t make life easier for themselves with many chances missed to kill off their opponents. Eventually, fatigue set in for the Twin Lions, with the Eagles regaining their rhythm and winning a high score line of 5-1.

Match 5 had the now confident Akaal Warriors sitting fiercely at the top of the table meet with the Kings of Iron River, now buoyant from their first notched win earlier. Unfortunately, the Kings had to graciously settle for a 2-0 defeat to the Akaal Warriors, now stretching their unbeaten run to 6 games.

The final 6th match of the day had the Eagles of Kampung Pandan, closer now to the leaders of the table, and the Pulapol Panthers. This was as one sided as it can get, with the Panthers suffering a 11-0 drubbing from the Eagles, the scoreline now a new record in the Akaal Premier League history.

As the table settles in, more twists and turns are expected. Stay tuned for the next matchday report.