JEDDAH – Spartans Football Club ran over Friends United Football Club in the opening match of the Saudi National Day Football Tournament 2012 at Dunk grounds here recently. This soccer fiesta is being organized by Shareef Khan Association, a group of Jeddah-based Indians, to celebrate the Saudi National Day. The final is scheduled for Sept. 28 at 9:00 P.M. The Spartans proved too good for the Friends and showed no mercy on the soccer field as they pumped in 10 goals without any reply. Spartans showed their skill, passing and coordination to romp home huge winners. Their star Waleed Shamlan was adjudged the Player of the Match. In other matches, Desi Stars drew with FC Brothers 1-1, Catalonia prevailed over Dabaang 3-1 and Arabian Falcon blanked FC ILU 4-0. Abdu, Fareed and Ehsan were selected as the Players of the Matches respectively. The match referees were Mohammed Zamaan and Samihuddin. They were supported by Ali Siddiqi and Azmat as match referees and scorers. Most of the players in the teams consist of young stars who were born and brought up in Saudi Arabia and are accustomed to the playing conditions. A sizable weekend crowd of soccer fans filled the stands and cheered their friends playing for different teams. The opening ceremony was presided by Dr. Fareed Khaja, President of Indian Fine Arts Academy (IFAA), an academy created by “Indians For Everyone”. Dr. Khaja, who is the main sponsor of the tournament, inaugurated the event by declaring the soccer meet open. Nizam Ali Khan, founder of IFAA, also graced the occasion. Mohammed Zamaan, Samihuddin, Ali Siddiqi, Azmat, Obaidullah and Khaled Hassan of Shareef Khan Association are the committee members who are running the championship. Fareed Ali Khan is the tournament coordinator. — SG
