In a nerve-wracking contest, one that hauled the audience to the edge of their seats, Better Future, Pakistan’s U15 football team, was defeated in the Norway Cup 2024 U15 final against Norway’s KFUM-Kam Oslo Bla. Dramatically, the game finished with a penalty shootout in Oslo after an exciting draw of 2-2 during regular time.
The final, conducted on a breezy Saturday evening, was a similitude of skills and determined struggle between the two teams. From the very kickoff, it was evident that this was going to be a hand-to-hand fight. Better Future Pakistan, an amazing team throughout, had been pitted against strong opponents, KFUM-Kam Oslo Bla.
At the end of 60 minutes of frenetic action, the scoreboard read 2-2, with Shahbaz Ali and Salman finding the net for Pakistan. The football displayed by both outfits was of high order as the crowd was treated to end-to-end stuff. With both sides getting several, it proved to be a game that could not be won during regulation time, as it went into the nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
The penalty shootout was a nervy one, to say the least. Better Future Pakistan had done all the good work during regulation time but the pressure of the shootout saw them fall short once more as a missed penalty towards the end allowed KFUM-Kam Oslo Bla to step up and convert their last chance to seal the title.
The defeat of Better Future Pakistan had come in a tightly contested encounter, which was difficult to swallow for any observer. Scoring 35 goals while conceding just four in nine outings, their journey to the final had been simply scintillating. This team’s journey, replete with resilience and teamwork, came to an end just one step ahead of ultimate glory.
The disappointment for Pakistani football did not end with the U15 final. The same happened to the Pakistan Street Children Football Team, which under the banner of Muslim Hands FC, lost in the semi-final of the U17 category earlier on Friday to Forde IL. The last semifinal was yet another nail-biter, as Pakistan came back from behind to level the score 1-1 in regular time. However, their U15 brethren also faltered in the penalty shootout, missing just one vital spot kick to hand Forde IL a spot in the final.
If anything, the Muslims Hands FC had a great run in the competition to finish with 26 goals while conceding only five, showing their potency on both ends. Indeed, what was gained through their performance throughout the competition earned them respect and admiration even after missing out on the final spot.
Though defeated, the performances of both Better Future Pakistan and Muslim Hands FC have been very promising in the Norway Cup. These young athletes proved they could compete against some of the world’s finest youth teams, displaying prodigious skill, strategy, and resilience.
Their runs during the Norway Cup have shone much-needed light on the potential for youth football in Pakistan. These teams, raised by committed coaches and enthusiastic communities, showed they can step up to the challenge and do reasonably well in the international arena.
These narrow defeats in finals and semifinals bring to mind vividly that, after all, football is a game of unpredictability. Although the titles could not be brought back by Better Future Pakistan and Muslim Hands FC, these boys have surely won many hearts and laid a very strong foundation for the future. The experiences that they gain from this tournament shall prove to be invaluable for these young players as they grow further and work towards more success in years to come.
While these young athletes are coming back home, memories of near-misses and close calls come as part and parcel with the pride of having represented the country with a good distinction. Nothing can promise a better future for Pakistani youth football in years to come than this campaign would have done by promising many more exciting and successful campaigns ahead.