JEDDAH — The 17th league championship of the Saudi Indian Football Forum (SIFF) will kick off at 4.30 p.m. Friday at the Ministry of Education Stadium near “Kubri Murabha” here. The three-month-long tournament, which is mainly sponsored by Western Union Money Transfer, is being organized under the patronage of the Indian Consulate and the supervision of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare (GPYW). Two matches are scheduled for the inaugural day. After Greenshore Teens meet Naseem Jeddah Plyclinic Sporting United at 6.00 p.m. in the U-17 club division, ABC Cargo Real Kerala will take on Paras Team BCC FC at 8.00 p.m. in the First Division. The co-sponsors are Nokia, JNH Hospital, Badr Tamam Polyclinic, VLCC, Zimo and Al-Abeer Medical Group. Addressing a press conference Wednesday, Youth Welfare officials Samir Omar Badwilan and Atif Abdul Wahab advised the organizers and participating teams to show sportsman spirit throughout the championship. The GPYW representatives are supporting SIFF by providing FIFA-recognized referees. The championship, which will witness four events — First Division, Second Division, Inter-School and the U-17 for clubs — will be declared open by Indian Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai during a colorful inaugural ceremony. The winner and runner-up trophies in First Division will be awarded by Western Union and Nokia, respectively. The trophies for Second Division will be presented by Rabea Tea and Badr Al-Tamam Polyclinic. The inter-school tournament is sponsored by Al-Abeer Medical Group, while U-17 event is supported by JNH. The participating teams: First Division: Group A: Paras Team BCC FC, ABC Cargo Real Kerala FC, Asiatic Cultural Center (ACC) B and Nadec Blue Star A. Group B: Regal Day 2 Day Friends, ACC-A, Eastern Eranad Club and ABC Cargo Yas Club. Second Division: Group A: Al-Abeer Sharafiya, Jeddah Sports Club, Badr Al-Tamam United Sports Club and Blue Star B. Inter-School: Group A: International Indian School, Bangladesh International School and Indonesian International School. Group B: Delhi Public School, Mahadul Uloom International School and Novel International School. Under-17: Greenshore Teens, Naseem Jeddah Polyclinic Sporting United, Jeddah Sports Club (junior) and Soccer Freakz.
