By K.O. Paulson
Saudi GazetteAl-Bassami Cargo Friends receiving the trophy from Mohammed Ashiq, Mohammed Alungal, Dileep Ibrahim and Hifsu Rahman during the awarding ceremony of the 16th SIFF-Western Union Money Transfer Football League in Jeddah recently. — Photos by Sarhan NazarJEDDAH – Al-Bassami Cargo Friends and Dr. Hasan Ghazawi Hospital ACC B emerged champions of the 16th SIFF-Western Union Soccer 2012 at the Ministry of Education Stadium here recently.
While Haris made it a tournament to remember for him and his club Bassami Friends by recording a hat trick in the 3-1 authoritative win over Sharafiya Trading BCC in the First Division final, maintaining a steady performance throughout the championship, Dr. Hasan Ghazawi Hospital ACC B capped its efforts by blanking International Indian School Jeddah (IISJ) 2-0 in a one-sided Second Division final.
Haris stole the show with a dazzling performance which earned him the Player of the Match award. He also emerged as the top scorer in the premier division.
The three-month-long event was mainly sponsored by Western Union Money Transfer and supported by Al-Abeer Medical Group, Naseem Jeddah Hospital, Jeddah National Hospital and Rose Biriyani Rice.
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Consul General of India; Mohammed Noor Shaikh, Haj Consul; Tariq Mishkas, Editor-in-Chief of Malayalam News and Urdu News; Mohammed Ashiq, Area Manager, Western Union Money Transfer; Dileep Ibrahim, MD, Media Connect Dubai; V.P. Mohammed Ali, MD, Jeddah National Hospital; Mohammed Alungal, MD, Al-Abeer Medical Group; and T. P. Ahmed of Naseem Hospital graced the finals.
After a dull Second Division final, in which Farash and Naufal Chokly found the net and Farash was adjudged the Player of the Match, a colorful march past and variety entertainments enthused the crowd before a befitting First Divsion final which rose to the expectations.
Quite against the run of play, Saleem controlled the ball from the midfield and dodged past player after player through the left flank and scored off an acute angle to put BCC in the lead early in the match. It made the proceedings very lively with Friends launching a wave of attacks. And soon Haris brilliantly connected a neat cross from Aziz to restore parity.
For BCC, Hameed worked hard in the middle. His crosses and corner kicks seemed very dangerous, but the firing line failed to convert them into goals.
On resumption, Haris handed Friends the lead and he completed the tally by a flying header which won the hearts of the crowd.
Outstanding performance awards:
First Division: Top scorer – Haris (Al-Bassami Friends); goalkeeper – Salam (Al-Bassami Friends); defender – Ashraf Kichapu (ABC Cargo Real Kerala); midfielder Hameed (Sharfiya Trading BCC); forward – Haris (Al-Bassami Friends).
Second Division: Top scorer – Nikhil Ramesh (IISJ) and Farash (Dr. Hasan Ghazawi Hospital ACC); goalkeeper – Adam (Emami Blue Star); defender – Mohammed Samiuddin (IISJ); midfielder – Naufal (Dr. Hasan Ghazawi Hospital ACC); forward – Safeer (Dr. Hasan Ghazawi Hospital ACC).
Promising player: Nikhil Ramesh (IISJ).