Players, members and guests stand for a souvenir photo during the Indian Youth Welfare Association (IYWA) Football Tournament organized to celebrate the 63rd Republic Day of India in Jeddah recently. — Courtesy photo JEDDAH — Apart from academic schoolwork designed to test aptitudes and develop other skills crucial for success in future careers and life in general, sports can also play a major role in honing kids' talents and improving their character. This was the message Consul General of India Faiz Ahmad Kidwai imparted to about 180 football players between the ages of 8 and 16 at the Bader Bakery Football grounds here recently. The players were part of the Indian Youth Welfare Association (IYWA) Football Tournament to celebrate the 63rd Republic Day of India. Kidwai exhorted the parents and community members to motivate the kids to play outdoor sports in this early stage of their lives, as physical fitness would help them to learn and practice discipline, decision making, planning, coordination, cooperation and teamwork as well as build leadership qualities. He lauded the IYWA's initiatives to establish a football academy and offer free coaching lessons to kids and teenagers. He also said the Indian community in Jeddah was fortunate to have Indian football legend Mohammed Habib as guest of honor to give ideas and tips to the young football players. Habib encouraged the players to grab the opportunity to utilize the facility and learn from his professional expertise and experience. He said hard work and dedication, along with discipline and punctuality, will yield good results. Kidwai and Habib both presented trophies, medals and certificates to the winners and runners-up. Habib presented mementoes to the coaches Mir Gazanfar Ali Zaki, Mohammed Javeed, Mir Taqi Ali, Mir Fazal Ali, Syed Kazim Hussain, Hameed Bilgrami, Azizullah, Jyothi Kumar, Anil and event managers Anwar Ul Haq and Mohammed Farooq. Dr. Kareem Uddin, Higher Board member, and Ahmeduddin Owaisi, President of Bazm-E-Itthehad, honored the winners, runners-up and participants of the tournament in the sub-junior category while Mr. Masood Ahmed, Principal of the International Indian School in Jeddah, presented the Best Player awards to Saleh Bin Abdullah Omar (senior category), Abdul Moiz (junior category) and Mutiullah Sharif (sub
