{{Short description|Pakistani football club}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = K-Electric FC | image = K-Electric F.C. Logo.png | image_size = 300px | fullname = K-Electric Football Club | nickname = The Electricians | founded = | dissolved = {{Start date and age|df=y|2020}} | ground = People's Football Stadium | capacity = 40,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/venues/pakistan/peoples-football-stadium-karachi/v6830/|title=Peoples Football Stadium – Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com|access-date=12 November 2018|archive-date=12 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112191606/https://int.soccerway.com/venues/pakistan/peoples-football-stadium-karachi/v6830/|url-status=live}}</ref> | chrtitle = Chairman | mgrtitle = | manager = | league = | season = | position = | current = | owner = K-Electric | pattern_la1 = _blueshoulders | pattern_b1 = _lightbluestripes2 | pattern_ra1 = _blueshoulders | pattern_sh1 = _bluesides | pattern_so1 = _bluetop | leftarm1 = 082567 | body1 = 082567 | rightarm1 = 082567 | shorts1 = 082567 | socks1 = 1D1E1F | pattern_la2 = _blackshoulders | pattern_b2 = _ blackshoulders | pattern_ra2 = _ blackshoulders | pattern_sh2 = _blacksides | pattern_so2 = _blacktop | leftarm2 = FF7538 | body2 = FF7538 | rightarm2 = FF7538 | shorts2 = FF7538 | socks2 = FF7538 | website = }}
'''K-Electric Football Club''', previously known as '''KESC''', served as the football section of K-Electric. The club played in the Pakistan Premier League and was based in Karachi, Sindh. The club colors, reflected in their crest and kit, were blue and orange.
== History == K-Electric football team began as Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC), a departmental side founded by the parental department KESC. In 1962, they played at the Karachi Football League held at Polo Ground.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) - Saturday 16 June 1962 |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003221/19620616/180/0013 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref>
=== Pakistan Premier League era (2005–2020) === K-Electric won promotion in 2005 from the second tier Pakistan Football Federation League when they finished runners-up to Pakistan Railways.
Across the early 2010s KESC reached multiple National Football Challenge Cup finals but falling short in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. They also finished runner-ups of the Pakistan Premier League in 2012–13, and 2013–14 seasons. In November 2013, the team purchased its first foreign player, Nigerian Abayomi Oludeyi.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wasim |first=Umaid |date=2013-11-30 |title=Anticlimax as KRL-KESC clash ends in goalless draw |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1059426 |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>
In January 2014, after a company-wide rebrand, KESC became K-Electric Limited and the football team followed suit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-06-05 |title=K-Electric Limited |url=http://www.brecorder.com/news/4202830 |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=Brecorder |language=en}}</ref>
==== Domestic success (2014–2015) ==== In October 2014, the team purchased another Nigerian player, Abayomi Wilson.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2014-11-03 |title=Nigerians inspire K-Electric to 3-2 win over KRL |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1142057 |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref> The club subsequently won their first league title in the 2014–15 season, having finished as runners-up in the two previous seasons. They became the first club from Pakistan to qualify for AFC Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |last=natasha.raheel |date=2015-01-21 |title=After four long years, K-Electric lift PPFL trophy |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/825351/after-four-long-years-k-electric-lift-ppfl-trophy |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref> Ahead of Asia in July 2015, the team hired foreign based UEFA "A" coach Majid Shafiq and added England-based players Shani Abbasi and Irfan Khan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-15 |title=K-Electric hire two England-based players, coach |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/51341-k-electric-hire-two-england-based-players-coach |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}</ref>
In August 2015, K-Electric F.C. made history by becoming the first Pakistan football club to progress into the AFC Cup play-offs after overcoming the champions of Bhutan and Mongolia. They drew 3–3 with Druk United before beating Khoromkhon 1–0.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-08-16 |title=K-Electric make cut for AFC Cup play-offs |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/56731-k-electric-make-cut-for-afc-cup-play-offs |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}</ref> The team also acquired the services of English striker Jon Ashworth.<ref>{{Cite web |last=natasha.raheel |date=2015-10-08 |title=Ashworth excited to play for K-Electric |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/969741/ashworth-excited-to-play-for-k-electric |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref> In October 2015, K-Electric F.C. competed in the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup in Bangladesh. Their striker Muhammad Rasool scored 4 goals in 3 games.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-25 |title=K-Electric crash out of Bangladesh event |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/979006/k-electric-crash-out-of-bangladesh-event |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
In the play-offs of the AFC Cup in February 2016, K-Electric lost 2–0 to Al-Hidd from Bahrain.<ref>{{Cite web |last=natasha.raheel |date=2016-02-11 |title=Afc cup qualifiers: We did all we could, says Essa |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1044162/afc-cup-qualifiers-we-did-all-we-could-says-essa |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref> Months later, the AFC Disciplinary Committee ruled that K-Electric had fielded an ineligible player, English player Irfan Khan, in the qualifying group stage matches, and the two results versus Druk United and Khoromkhon were forfeited and awarded as 3–0 wins to the opponents. Despite the forfeitures and a fine, the club was not removed from the playoff fixture, and the previous fixtures remained as played.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wasim |first=Umaid |date=2016-07-02 |title=AFC slaps $2,000 fine on K-Electric for fielding ineligible player |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1268471 |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rizwan |date=2016-07-02 |title=K-Electric fined for fielding English FA player |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/132273-K-Electric-fined-for-fielding-English-FA-player |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}</ref>
==== Later years and dissolution ==== The team returned for the 2018–19 Pakistan Premier League season after years of federation turmoil and football inactivity, but results were inconsistent.
In October 2020 K-Electric disbanded the football team, due to corporate self-interest and the financial burden of maintaining a squad during a period of national football inactivity.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2266935/huge-blow-as-k-electric-all-set-to-disband-football-team|title=Huge blow as K-Electric all set to disband football team|date=4 October 2020|access-date=24 January 2022|work=The Express Tribune (newspaper)|archive-date=24 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124155657/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2266935/huge-blow-as-k-electric-all-set-to-disband-football-team|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/748798-footballers-stage-protest-against-k-electric-disbanding-team|title=Footballers stage protest against K-Electric disbanding team|date=25 November 2020|access-date=24 January 2022|work=The News International (newspaper)|archive-date=24 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124154156/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/748798-footballers-stage-protest-against-k-electric-disbanding-team|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Team image ==
=== Franchise football === In the second edition of the national franchise based Super Football League in 2010, KESC ran the Karachi Energy team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ahsan |first=Ali |date=2011-02-02 |title=A history of football in Pakistan — Final part |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/603320/a-history-of-football-in-pakistan-final-part |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref> The 2010 revival of the competition after years from the last edition held in 2007 itself was staged in partnership with KESC.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Ahsan |first=Ali |date=2012-11-13 |title=Time to scrap the premier league? |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/763735/time-to-scrap-the-premier-league |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>
=== Community work === Beyond first team football, K-Electric ran grassroots programs, the K-Electric Lyari U-16 Football League between 2014 and 2016, with UNICEF, Pakistan Football Federation, Anti-Narcotics and later Rangers/I Am Karachi as partners,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wasim |first=Umaid |date=2014-05-17 |title=KE-Lyari U-16 League kicks off |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1106744 |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=5th K-Electric Lyari Football League Concludes After a Fiercely Contested Finale – K-Electric |url=https://ke.com.pk/5th-k-electric-lyari-football-league-concludes-fiercely-contested-finale/ |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=ke.com.pk}}</ref> and sponsoring a women's club, Baloch United in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=K-Electric Press Release – 9.9.2014 {{!}} KE Becomes First Corporate to sponsor women's football in Pakistan; MoU signed between KE and Baloch United Women's Football Club – K-Electric |url=https://ke.com.pk/k-electric-press-release-9-9-2014-ke-becomes-first-corporate-to-sponsor-womens-football-in-pakistan-mou-signed-between-ke-and-baloch-united-womens-football-club/ |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=ke.com.pk}}</ref>
== Stadium == Like several Pakistan domestic football teams, K-Electric did not own a dedicated ground. Hence the team used several municipal venues in Karachi for its home fixtures.<ref>{{Cite web |last=InpaperMagazine |first=From |date=2013-01-13 |title=No competition! |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/778372/no-competition |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andrew |first=Marylou |date=2014-07-01 |title=Beyond cricket |url=https://aurora.dawn.com/news/1140582 |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=Aurora Magazine |language=en}}</ref> The club usually used People's Football Stadium in Lyari for its home fixtures for the Pakistan Premier League.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-07-22 |title=Pakistan Premier League kicks off today: Six cities to hold matches simultaneously |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/312854/pakistan-premier-league-kicks-off-today-six-cities-to-hold-matches-simultaneously |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-07-04 |title=PFF approves eight cities and 13 venues for sixth PPFL |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/475611/pff-approves-eight-cities-and-13-venues-for-sixth-ppfl |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-09-15 |title=PFF approves 13 venues for Pakistan Premier Football |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/900700/pff-approves-13-venues-for-pakistan-premier-football |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref> It also chose as their home venue for the 2016 AFC Cup. The club also staged youth tournaments, such as the K-Electric Lyari U-16 League, at the stadium.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KE Kicks Off the Under-16 Lyari Football League in Partnership with I Am Karachi – K-Electric |url=https://ke.com.pk/ke-kicks-off-the-under-16-lyari-football-league-in-partnership-with-i-am-karachi/ |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=ke.com.pk}}</ref>
== Rivalry == The club had a long-standing rivalry with Rawalpindi-based Khan Research Laboratories.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wasim |first=Umaid |date=2017-01-25 |title=Kaleem's KE set up tantalising semi-final showdown with KRL |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1310483 |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Mir Shabbar |date=2017-01-29 |title=KE down SSGC to finish third in NBP President's Cup |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1311306 |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref> The rivalry started when K-Electric and Khan Research Laboratories faced off in two back-to-back Pakistan National Challenge Cup finals, in 2011 and 2012, with Khan Research Laboratories winning both the finals 1–0 and 3–1 on penalties with game drawn 0–0 after extra time respectively. K-Electric won the league in the 2014-15 season, ending the reign of Khan Research Laboratories as domestic champions.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-04-22 |title=Hassan's hat-trick propels Navy into last eight |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1177336 |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref>
==Continental history== {{Further|Pakistani football clubs in Asian competitions}}{{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|#FFFFCC|Draw|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|#FFCCCC|Loss|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {| class="wikitable" |- ! Season ! Competition ! Round ! Club ! Home ! Away ! Aggregate |- | rowspan="3" |2016 | rowspan="3" |AFC Cup | rowspan="2" |Qualifying round |{{flagicon|BHU}} Druk United | colspan="3" style="text-align:center; background:#FFFFCC" |3–3 |- |{{flagicon|MNG}} Khoromkhon | colspan="3" style="text-align:center; background:#CCFFCC" |1–0 |- | rowspan="1" |Qualifying play-off |{{flagicon|BHR}} Al-Hidd | colspan="3" style="text-align:center; background:#FFCCCC;" |0–2 |}
==Honours==
=== Domestic === *'''Pakistan Premier League:''' ** '''Winners (1):''' 2014–15 ** Runners-up (2): 2012–13, 2013–14 *'''Pakistan Football Federation League'''''':''' ** Runners-up (1): 2005–06 *'''Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup:''' ** Runners-up (4): 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://globalsportsarchive.com/team/soccer/k-electric-fc/14165/ K-Electric FC] at Global Sports Archive
{{Pakistan Premier League}}
Category:K-Electric FC Category:Works football clubs in Pakistan Category:Football in Karachi Category:Defunct football clubs in Pakistan