Football friends and UTSC accorded a warm send-off to K.T. Hyder during the UTSC Saudi Soccer Festival 2019 in Jeddah Friday. Hyder, who is leaving the Kingdom after working here at different fields in travel industry for 41 years, has been a regular figure at expatriates’ football activities, especially rendering his technical know-how in the game. Technical head of Saudi Indian Football Forum (SIFF), Hyder has the unique distinction of being the first player representing Calicut University in Kerala State, India, from MES Kalladi College, Mannargad in 1974 and his team finished runner-up in the All India Varsity Football Championship. He represented the university again in 1975 and the team won Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee Shield for the All-India University champions. He was soon selected by professional football teams of Cochin Port Trust and Customs and Central Excise Cochin on sports quota after graduation and he opted for Port Trust team. His playing career ended there as he moved to Saudi Arabia in 1977. Beginning at Saudi Tourist and Travel Bureau (STTB), Hyder later served at Attar Travels for 17 years as Operating Officer before shifting to Kuwait Airways as Cargo Officer. He ended his career there retiring as Superintendent of Cargo and Operation. While his friends wished him good luck, a strict disciplinarian Hyder, who gives a lot of importance to principles in life, gratefully remembered his wonderful years in this holy land. — SG