Aziziah Soccer won the Wandoor Area Welfare Association (WAWA) sevens football tournament finals last Friday evening at the Al-Sharq floodlit football stadium on Exit 16.

In the exciting finals, Aziziah led by captain Shfeeque Aluva beat Rainbow FC by 1-0. Manaf scored the lone goal of the match. A total of eight teams from Riyadh region took part in the WAWA sevens tournament. The first legs of the tournament were held at the Al-Yamamah Hotel football grounds in Riyadh.

Manaf of Aziziah was named Best Player of the tournament and Shafeeque of Aziziah Best Goalkeeper. Lantern FC was adjudged as the best fair play team of the tournament. This first WAWA tournament was organized in coordination with Riyadh Indian Football Association (RIFA). The awards were presented by Razak, general manager of Rolex Cargo for the winners, Noushad Kormath of Cozmos Travels for the runner-up team, and the prize money was presented by Latheef Thalappil of Speed Printing Agency.

WAWA is a Riyadh-based social and welfare organization comprising more than 200 Keralite expatriates from Wandoor Area in Malappuram district in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It has been doing yeoman service for uplifting the poor in and around Malappuram district, especially in the Wandoor region along the Western Ghats. It has been extending a helping hand for the medical treatment of the poor and supporting children from poor families by providing non-refundable scholarships to pursue their studies.

A huge crowd comprising a cross section of the Indian expatriate community, football fans in Riyadh and the team supporters were present at the stadium to cheer the finalist teams.

WAWA Pesident Aneesh Babu K.K. presided the awards ceremony; Razak …. Noushad Kormath, Latheef Thalppil, Devan, Shaji, Sanoop Payyannur and Ommer Mukkam made felicitation speeches.

The success of this maiden tournament was well coordinated by convener Askar Amadan Wandoor, Sahil Thalappil, Noushad Nechikkadan, Nazeer P.K., Sagir Ali E.P., Sadaruddin Chattoli, Assainar Obayar, P.M.A. Jaleel, Suraj U, Sackeer E.K., Kabeer K.T., and Adv. Mohammed Sharif, T.P. Abdul Jabbar, Sahjil P.P. Sabu Siddique, Jamshad Cholakkal and Ashique Azhanikkode. Tournament committee secretary Hussain Pottammal welcomed the guests at the awards ceremony and treasurer Rafathullah Kalliyil proposed a vote of thanks.