JEDDAH, 31 January 2006 — Growing popularity of soccer among expatriates in the Indian Subcontinent was in focus at the 10th anniversary celebration of Saudi Indian Football Forum (SIFF) here on Friday.
“Back home in India cricket has overshadowed other games including football, but things are changing for the better,” said Indian Consul General Dr. Ausaf Sayeed who also released a souvenir published to commemorate the event. “This is a sort of community service that is expected of our overseas sports and cultural organizations,” he said and described SIFF as a “sports bridge” between the two football loving communities.
Referring to the contribution of SIFF in promoting the game through its annual tournaments, he hoped that the recent agreements reached between Saudi Arabia and India in New Delhi, which also covers sports, would result in greater exchanges at both sports and cultural levels.
SIFF President K.P. Abdul Salam said the community was “exceptionally grateful” to the Ministry of Education and the consulate for extending their support for staging the annual tournaments in which 18 teams have been participating, with full support from their clubs and players. He congratulated last year’s tournament winners — Al-Doraq Sports in A division, YAS Club in B division and Al-Manarat International School in interschool.
SIFF General Secretary Aslam Cherat reviewed the activities of the forum and said the 11th tournament would be staged from March-end. “New entries are coming in, but we’re restricting our tournament to 18 teams,” he said.
Two former SIFF presidents, Dr. Abdullah Moopan and Vellanchira Muhammad Ali — Treasurer K.O. Paulson, Nizam Mampad, Al-Doraq’s Nisar, YAS Club’s Saifuddin, Blue Star Club’s Mukhtar and Al-Arabi’s Kunhi Muhammad also spoke and expressed their gratitude to SIFF for promoting football. SIFF Vice President Nizamuddin proposed a vote of thanks.
