JEDDAH — The Indian Youth Welfare Association (IYWA) organized a Football Tournament to celebrate the 64th Republic Day of India here recently. Around 100 players between the ages of 8 and 16 years took part in the tournament played at the Bader Bakery Football ground. It was a moment of joy for the young players, who attend different schools here, hail from different states back home and speak diverse languages, to be divided into Sub-Junior, Junior and Senior groups for football games. Speaking on the occasion, chief guest Consul (Community Welfare), Consulate General of India, Jeddah, S.R.H. Fahmi lauded the initiative and efforts of IYWA Football Academy and called upon the youths to avail the facilities in learning the game and utilize their skill while representing their schools, state and nation. Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Vice President (Sports) IYWA, recollected the services of Mir Gazanfar Ali Zaki, Director IYWA Footbal Academy, Manager Anwar ul Haq, Assitant Manager Farooq Ahmed and coaches Jaweed and Mir Fazal Ali throughout the year. S.R.H. Fahmi, D.V.S. Rao of Al-Falah DPS International School Jeddah and K.P. Abdul Salaam, former SIFF and India Forum president, presented trophies, medals and gifts to the winners, runners-up and other players. Coaches Mohammed Javeed, Mir Fazal Ali and event manager Anwar Ul Haq and his assistant Mohammed Farooq were presented mementos by Fahmi. The event was mainly sponsored and supported by Tasty Taste Restaurant, Stag Consultancy, Alpha Cargo Services Co. Ltd., Saudi Industrial Projects Co. (Pepsi), Best Harvest Trading Co Ltd., Jotun Paints, Sigma Paints and Hyderabad Sweets Aziziyah. Earlier, IYWA President S.P. Singh welcomed the gathering, Mir Gazanfar Ali Zaki gave a vote of thanks and explained the importance of Republic Day of India to the players. Parents of the participating players Dr. Ashfaq Maniyar, Prashant Praharaj, Pandiyan expressed their views about IYWA Academy. Among others who spoke on the occasion were D.V.S. Rao, K.P. Abdul Salam, Ramnarayan Iyer, chief patron of IYWA.
