JEDDAH, 7 April 2006 — The 11th annual tournament organized by Saudi Indian Football Forum (SIFF) kicks off with the opening match at the Ministry of Education Stadium today.
The match will be preceded by the formal opening ceremony to be presided over by Indian Consul General Dr. Ausaf Sayeed.
Seventeen teams in A and B divisions are competing for this year’s championships.
Group A comprises YAS Club Jeddah, Western-Union Al Doraq, Eranad Club, Friends Sports, Young Challengers Club, ABC Kerala XI, MES Football Club, International Indian School-Jeddah and Bharath Recreation Club (BRC). Group B includes Bharath Cultural Center (BCC), Blue Star-B, Asian Soccer, Asiatic Cultural Center (ACC-B), Asiana yellow, Combined Brothers, Blue Star-A and Rainbow Sports Club.
Matches will be played on league-cum-knockout basis, which has been SIFF’s format in the past 10 years. All league matches will be played up to June 2 and teams will qualify for knockout rounds in the semifinals in the two divisions that will be played on June 9 and June 16. The finals in both divisions are set for June 23, SIFF President Aslam Cherat said.
The first match on the opening day is between Western Union-Al Doraq, last year’s A division champion, and YAS Club, which won the B division title last year, and has moved into A division.
On April 14, there will be three matches. Two of them will be in A division - MES Football Club vs ABC Kerala XI and Friends Sports Club vs Eranad Club. The third match will be in B division between Blue Star-A and combined Brothers.
Likewise, there will be three league matches in both divisions on each of the following Fridays. Saudi referees will conduct the proceedings of the matches all through the tournament.
The newly constituted executive body of SIFF, which includes Papatta Kunhimohamed, K.M. Mukthar and Nizamudheen, all vice presidents, M. Mohamed Ali general secretary, Alavi Aruveettil treasurer, K.P.M. Sakir, V.K.A. Rauf and T.P. Nizar Ahmed, all secretaries, Ayub Musliyarakath, A. Rasheed and M. Sulaiman, all working committee members, and Dr. Abdullah Mooppan, Vallanchira Mohamed Ali and K.P. Abdul Salam, all members of the advisory board.
