Sar-e-Pul and Panjshir posted clear victories, while Takhar edged past Balkh to close the eight-team phase and set up the semi-finals.
Kabul | By Sara Amiri
The Super Eight stage of the seventh Yama Petrol Afghanistan Buzkashi League concluded in Kabul with decisive results that confirmed the semi-final line-up and separated the remaining contenders.
Sar-e-Pul secured a 9–4 win over Baghlan in the tenth match of the round, controlling the contest through steady scoring and physical authority. Panjshir later registered the widest margin of the stage, defeating Herat 15–3 in a match that was largely settled in the opening exchanges as Panjshir maintained pressure and dictated play from start to finish.
The final fixture of the eight-team phase, between Takhar and Balkh, offered a sharper contest. Played over two 30-minute halves, the match remained competitive until Takhar capitalised on key moments, managing the game efficiently to claim a 2–0 victory and advance to the semi-finals.
Organisers confirmed that Saturday, 29 Qaws, has been set aside as a rest day to allow teams to prepare for the four-team stage. Semi-final matches are scheduled to begin on Sunday, 30 Qaws.
The seventh edition of the Yama Petrol Afghanistan Buzkashi League is being held at Kabul’s Yaka-Tut Stadium in cooperation with the General Directorate of Olympic, Physical Education and Sports and the National Federation of Buzkashi, Neza-bazi and Indigenous Games. The tournament features 11 provincial teams and represents Afghanistan’s highest-level organised buz kashi competition, with the semi-finals expected to determine both the finalists and the direction of the title race.