KERALA :

Two prominent non-resident Indian (NRI) businessmen from the Gulf, one from the UAE and the other from Saudi Arabia, have joined hands to revive the legendary Sait Nagjee Football Tournament in Kozhikode in Kerala after over two decades with the aim to “restore the old glory” of the sport in the state.

Two prominent non-resident Indian (NRI) businessmen from the Gulf, one from the UAE and the other from Saudi Arabia, have joined hands to revive the legendary Sait Nagjee Football Tournament in Kozhikode in Kerala after over two decades with the aim to “restore the old glory” of the sport in the state.

Dr Azad Moopen of the Aster DM Healthcare group in Dubai and Dr. Siddeek Ahmed, who heads the Eram Group in Saudi Arabia, have also roped in Brazilian football star Ronaldinho as its goodwill ambassador and are getting top European and Latin American teams to play in India.  The announcement was made recently in Dubai in the presence of Ronaldinho who arrived in Kozhikode Sunday to a rousing welcome from fans, including hundreds of escort bikers from Kochi airport to Kozhikode.

The Aster MIMS Nagjee International Club Football promoted by Mondial Sports LLP will start on February 5 at the Kozhikode Corporation Stadium.

For the first time in India, seven international club football teams from South America and Europe will play in the tournament whose final is on February 21.The UK-based charitable trust, Football for Peace Global (FfP), is the charity partner, undertaking a legacy programme for school children in Kozhikode, supported by the United Nations and the Duke of Cambridge.

The participating teams include Argentina (U-23), Watford F C (U-23), England, Levante UD (U-23) Spain, Club Atletico Paranaense (U-23) Brazil, TSV 1860 München (U-23) Germany, Rapid Bucharest, Romania, Shamrock Rovers F C, Ireland and I-League (U-23), India.

“Football has the power to unite people. It has given me an opportunity and taught me universal values of friendship and unity,” Ronaldinho said in a statement.

“I am supporting the work carried by Football for Peace Global and proud today to be the guest of honour of Nagjee International Club Football Tournament 2016 and becoming a Footballer for Peace.”

Acclaimed footballer Kashif Siddiqi, a co-founder of FfP, will also support the event actively.

“It is a great privilege for me to partner with my football friend Ronaldinho to achieve our visions for peace and undertake an FfP legacy programme in Kerala,” Siddiqui said.

The organisers say their primary goal is to “restore the old glory, revive the sport in its pure form (unlike the franchise model) and last, but not the least, continue its legacy of promoting peace” in a new form “which will be seen for the first time ever in the nation.”

Dr Moopen is the chairman and managing director of Aster DM Healthcare, a healthcare conglomerate in the Middle East and India. Headquartered in Dubai, the Aster DM network now encompasses more than 13,000 employees, 1500+ doctors with clinics and diagnostic centres.  In 2010 and 2011, Dr Moopen was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman and Padma Shri by the Indian government respectively.

Dr. Siddeek Ahmed is the chairman and managing director of Eram Group, one of the region’s most diverse conglomerates, with over 40 plus entities spread across 12 countries, which is a powerh0use in industrial contracting, project management solutions, automotive, healthcare, travel, IT, manufacturing, power electronics, trading, floor covering and other commercial ventures.

The news naturally got prominent attention in the Gulf media with newspapers like the Gulf Times carrying a big report on it.  An estimated seven million Indians live in the Gulf region and send back over $ 35bn in annual remittances.

The Indian Diaspora ( feedback: info@theindiandiaspora.com)

source: http://www.theindiandiaspora.com / The Indian Diaspora / Home> In the News> Primary News / January 25th, 2016