From left: IISD Managing Committee Member Abdullah Manjeri, Al Dossary Hospital Director General Dr. Abdul Fatah Inayal, Indian Embassy Higher Board Member John Thomas, Saudi Tourism Council Member Dr. Adil Shahin Dossary (KFUPM), Chairman and Managing Director of Eram and ITL Group Dr. Siddique Ahmed, IIS Dammam Principal Dr. E. K. Mohammed Shaffi, Lulu Hyper Market Regional Director M. Abdul Basheer, Sathish Parumala (DIFA), Mohammed Najathi, United FC Club chairman Raju Lucas pose with a copy of “Touchline.” — Courtesy photo Faisal Aboobacker Ponnani
Al KHOBAR — A special souvenir “Touchline” revealing the history of football was launched by the United Football Club Al Khobar, a well-organized Indian sports club in the Eastern Province, as part of its fifth year celebrations at the conference hall of Al Nahda football stadium Rakha. The inauguration ceremony was officially done by Dr. Siddique Ahmed, chairman and managing director of Eram and ITL Group. He said that the International Indian School authorities in the Kingdom and the Indian community should organize activities at school level to encourage sportsman spirit among the students. He also suggested that inter-community and inter-school football matches should be conducted to inspire students. The chief guest of the event, Saudi Tourism Council Member Dr. Adil Shahin Dossary (KFUPM), acknowledged the hard work of the Indian community in Saudi Arabia, especially the Keralite community for their dedication and zeal in all spheres of life. Ten distinguished persons from a wide variety of the social, business, educational and cultural sectors of the Eastern Province launched the souvenir. For the first time ever, a football club in Saudi Arabia brought out a versatile literary presentation like “Touchline.” The 120-page souvenir features the literary works of several famous writers from the media and cultural sectors in Saudi Arabia and India. Sajid Arattupuzha, a well-known media personal of Gulf Madhyamam daily, introduced the writers and spoke about various articles in Malayalam. Mohammed Najathi presided the function, IIS Dammam Principal Dr. E. K. Mohammed Shaffi, Al Dossay Hospital Director General Dr. Abdul Fatah Inayal, Indian Embassy Higher Board Member John Thomas, IISD Managing Committee Member Abdullah Manjeri, Lulu Hyper Market Regional Director M. Abdul Basheer, OICC Saudi Arabia President P.M. Najeeb, Alikkutty Olavattoor (KMCC), Riyaz Ismail (Navayugam), Sathish Parumala (DIFA) spoke on the occasion and extended their best wishes to the souvenir. On behalf of the sponsors of the event, a special memento was presented to Dr. Abdul Fatah Inayal of Al Dossary Hospital by Dr. Siddique Ahmed.
Special guests who took part in the inaugural ceremony were Johnson Keeppallil (Sunshine International School), Albin Joseph (Express Money), Abdul Khader Master (Al Muna International School), Aziz Abdul Rahman Sharafuddin (Royal Malabar Hotel), and Nas Vakkom (well known Social Worker in EP). Club chairman Raju Lucas formally welcomed the guests, and the souvenir Chief Editor Mujeeb Kalathil gave the vote of thanks. Abdul Jabbar Calicut and Shihab Koilandy exhilarated the audience with their musical performance. Aminul Najim recited few verses from the Qur'an at the beginning of the function. Thomas Mathew and Nibras conducted the event. Asharaf Thalappuzha, Sharif Manoor, Jaseel Chennamangalloor, Naushad Alanallur, Rahim Alanallur, and Riyaz Babu Vaniambalam lead the function.
