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Kareem Kerai Academy wins Singa Cup bronze medal | The Express Tribune
Kareem Kerai Academy team after winning the medal. PHOTO: PR
Kareem Kerai Academy (KKA), a professional football academy founded in 2022 to develop young talent, has achieved a historic milestone by securing the bronze medal in the competitive Under-16 category at the 15th annual Singa Cup 2025 in Singapore.
KKA, one of two teams representing Pakistan for the first time, stood out among top youth squads from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, India, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Their impressive run finished with a thrilling 3rd-place playoff victory, where they defeated Indonesia’s Tapteng Sibolga Student Football Team 4-3 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Competing in Group A, KKA quickly bounced back from an early loss to the professional side Semen Padang FC (Indonesia). They dominated their group stage opponents with key results, including a massive 12-0 win over Bhaichung Bhutia Football School (India) and a crucial 2-1 victory against Ocean Reef (Australia).
KKA’s knockout journey saw them beat Jurongville Secondary (Singapore) 2-0 in the Quarter-Finals, ultimately losing a tough Semi-Final to the eventual champions, Benjamarachanusorn (Thailand).
Further underscoring the team’s quality, star striker Muhammad Abdullah Iram earned the distinction of being the Joint Top Scorer of the U16 tournament with an impressive 7 goals.
The tournament was a major triumph for Pakistani youth football, as the other representative, Lyari Football Academy, finished as the Runners-Up in the U16 final, narrowly losing 1-2 to Benjamarachanusorn. The combined second and third-place finishes cemented Pakistan’s strong presence on the international youth stage.
“This bronze medal is a testament to the dedication of our players and the academy’s commitment to providing international exposure and developing young talent in Karachi,” said Kareem, Founder of Kareem Kerai Academy. “
KKA’s achievement is an inspiring story for local young athletes, highlighting the vital role private academies play in developing footballers in the region.