The Kozhikode District Football Association (KDFA) and Mondial Sports LLP welcome the international media to announce the revival of the glorious SaitNagjee Trophy after a 21 year-long hiatus.
The event, renamed as “Aster MIMS Nagjee International Club Football Tournament,” will be flagged-off at the historic Kozhikode Corporation EMS stadium on February 5, 2016.
Football icon and one of the greatest players ever, Ronaldinho will be the Guest of Honour for the tournament and made a two-day visit to Kerala on January 24 and January 25, 2016. As stated by him “Football has the power to unite people. It has given me an opportunity and taught me universal values of Friendship and Unity. I am supporting the work carried by Football for Peace Global and proud today to be “Guest of Honour” of Nagjee International Club Football Tournament 2016 and becoming a Footballer for Peace”
For the first time in India, seven International club football teams from South America and Europe will play each other in the Aster MIMSNagjee International Club Football Tournament. The matches will be played over a period of two weeks up till February 21, 2016.
The event is more than just sport and skills.
A UK-based charitable trust, Football for Peace Global (FfP) will be the Charity partner with Aster MIMSNagjee International Club Football Tournament – 2016 and will undertake a legacy programme for school children in Kozhikode.
Acclaimed footballer Kashif Siddiqi, co-founder of FfP, will actively support the event in Kozhikode.The FfP is a diplomatic sports movement dedicated to inspiring people-to-people diplomacy and understanding within marginalised communities worldwide. The Charity legacy programs have been supported by the United Nations and the Duke of Cambridge – HRH Prince William.
Mr Kashif said, “it is a great privilege for me to partner with my football friend Ronaldinho to achieve our visions for Peace and undertake a FfP legacy programme in Kerala.”
Mr HifsuRehman from Mondial Sports LLP explained, “It has been our dream to revive and resume the glorious tournament in our home town. Our goal is to reach out to the young sporting talents who are deprived of basic infrastructure and facilitate them. Also, thanks to our collaboration with the FfP Global as Charity Partners, we can build a long term vision and an impacting legacy program.”To summarise, the tournament is about ``Passion, Pace and Peace.’’