Nothing but football.
After all the uncertainty, Indian Football team will start their 2014 Asian Games 2014 sojourn on September 15th, when they take on a formidable opposition in UAE. India is grouped along UAE and Jordan in Group G and their matches take place at the Hwaseong Stadium and the Incheon Munhak Stadium. Two teams will qualify to the round 16 from the group.
Kerala based football academy SEPT signs landmark agreement with UAE Club Al Ahli SC. SEPT is a byword in Kerala football now. Started in 2004, SEPT now trains around 2000 budding footballers across the state. Take any age-group Kerala team, it is assured that SEPT cadres form a major part of them.
As part of the agreement it is understood that Al Ahli SC will open up their world class training facility and trainers for SEPT kids. In turn, Al Ahli is hoping to tap in to the large swathe of Indian diaspora in UAE. According to reports it is said that after the U-17 World Cup that took place in UAE, Al Ahli noticed the vast number of Indian supporters that turned up for the matches and issued notices in Malayalam media in UAE urging fans to turn for Al Ahli’s matches as well.
The partnership between SEPT was signed today between SEPT UAE coordinator Shanavas 
CKP and Ahmed Khalifah Hammed (CEO, Al Ahli Club) during a press conference at the Al Ahli Club Media Centre.
Al Ahli is a leading club in the middle-east and has been attracting top players from middle-east and Europe off late.
Pic Courtesy : http://www.mathrubhumi.com
Reports in Malayalam media suggest that Kerala based NRI C.K.P. Shanavas has been appointed as the logistics manager for the FIFA U-17 World Cup scheduled to start October 17th in UAE.
Shanavas is a lover of the beautiful game hailing from the city of Kozhikode. He is also an active member of the grass-root football academy – SEPT in the city. Shanavas is the son of late T.M. Rahman who was also the secretary of Kozhikode Football Association.
Shanavas is currently working in a UAE bank – Emirates NBDO. His employer has granted him 50 days of leave to be part of FIFA U-17 world Cup, which will start on October 17th and go on till November 8th.
The Indian U-16 football team who is on a preparatory tour ahead of the upcoming AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers defeated Sharjah Sports Club U-17 Team 4-0 in a friendly match today.
While on paper the victory looks massive, Sharjah Sports Club is almost in tatters as of 2013 as they finished at the bottom of the UAE League. Read about the high and lows for Sharjah football club here.
Read more on India U-16 victory here.