Wadoo to play in exhibition match

Srinagar, May 23: The valleys international footballer Mehraj-ud-Din Wadoo will play in the exhibition match that is going to be held next week in the Polo ground Srinagar.
In the match former celebrity footballers will be featuring alongside Wadoo and it will be sort of fun exhibition match. This was revealed by Wadoo himself during press conference in which formation of player’s welfare association was announced.
He said, “It has been long time that football lovers of valley have seen me playing in front of them. I missed big opportunity last year by not playing in Santosh trophy due to India team coaching camp.”
“Whenever I was coming here during vacations everyone was asking me when they can see me playing and I had no answer for their questions. Now this exhibition match has given me opportunity to do that” he said.
He said that in the match former celebrities and current top level footballers of valley would be participating and it will be a fun match type with no serious football involved.
“The match would sort of fun match and I am sure spectators would love. We are planning to organize it in central Polo ground next week but that can be clear only after we get required permission from Sports council authorities. These types of matches are being played in outside countries and it will be first time that all celebrity fun-match would be played in valley” he said.


Published in Greater Kashmir on May 24-2009 http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=24_5_2009&ItemID=18&cat=4

Valley footballers form association

We will work for interests of players along with JKFA’

Srinagar, May 23: For the welfare of state footballers the Football Players Welfare Association has been formed announcement of which was made in a press conference giving at Polo ground here on Saturday.
Valley’s International footballer Mehraj-ud-Din Wadoo will be the president of the association while as another former international footballer Dr Zahoor Haroon will be its general secretary. Sajid Yousuf Dar has been appointed as its Vice-President.
Wadoo himself announced the formation of association the aim of which is to work for the interests of players and to fight for their rights.
Wadoo said, “Number of people have confusion that the Welfare Association has been formed today. It is not true we have been thinking about it from last two years and finally today its announcement has been made. In our state there already existed one players association but from lat three to four years they not doing anything and it is because of that reason we have taken this step.”
“I have went to different countries along with Indian team and my club and everywhere I saw their existed a players association which works for players welfare and fight for their rights. The reason why their football is developed is because they care for their players. Once you give players their mental satisfaction it is only after that they will exert themselves for their clubs and states” he said.
The international footballer said that forming association is not any big thing but to keep it functioning and to achieve for it was formed is the important thing.
“There is lot of misconception among number of players that it is association created by Wadoo but that is not true. We have included almost all the current playing footballers in the association and we are welcoming all footballers from whole state to be part of it. It is only after all regions get equal representation that the actual motive of this association would be achieved” he said.
Wadoo said that till date organization is looking towards the welfare of footballers and the difficulties they are facing.
“Most of the footballers come from poor families and have no other means of earning livelihood. Till date whenever any player suffered injury he was left all alone. In valley clubs and selectors can throughout any player out of team at any time without any reason. At that time it is our association which has to stand up and fight for their rights” he said.
On the occasion Wadoo made it clear that the welfare association is not anti JandK Football Association and wants to work alongside with it for the development of football and welfare of players in state.
“Our association is not anti JKFA and we have nothing against them. We have formed only to fight against the discrimination of players. The other thing we will work for is utilization of talent. Everyone one says that we have talent but no one speaks about how to utilize that. We will select young talented players from different parts of valley and will give them special coaching and among that lot talented ones will be sent outside state.” Wadoo said.
Replying to a question about internal bickering of JKFA he said, “It is internal matter of JKFA and players have nothing to do with that. The JKFA office bearers should always take care that their matters should not harm players. This year the internal bickering of JKFA has cost our many players place in the Santosh trophy squad. Even last year’s captain, Shanawaz Iqbal has been thrown out and our main players like Bilal, Rizwan who have shown their talent at national level are not in team. This should not happen and players should not be involved in matters of JKFA.”
When asked about JK Santosh trophy squad he said, “The squad that has been sent is inexperienced, if they are going for only participation then it is good but if they want to perform then they should send our full strength team. As for myself is concerned I am suffering from groin injury due to which I could make it into the squad.”
Among others who were present on the occasion were East Bengal club player Waseem Feroze, Sajid Yousuf, Hilal Ahmad Rather and veteran footballer Muhammad Ismail Chapri.

Published in Greater Kashmir on May 24-2009 http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=24_5_2009&ItemID=17&cat=4

WADOO SELECTED FPWA PRESIDENT

Wadoo selected FPWA president


Says association will stand by the players who face injustice

The prominent soccer players of the Valley Saturday established the Football Players Welfare Association (FPWA) pledging to stand for the welfare of the Valley’s soccer players and for the development of the football.
Valley’s soccer star, Mehraj-ud-din Wadoo, who is the brainchild of setting up the association, was chosen as the president of the association.

Besides Wadoo as president, the association has chosen Kashmir University football coach Sajid Dar as Vice-president, former international footballer Zahoor Haroon as general secretary, NIS coach Hilal Parray as joint secretary senior footballer Bilal Wadera as Treasurer and Umar Hayat as chief spokesman.
Wadoo said that the players association was necessary for the betterment of the football.
“I have been to several countries where players association has helped the game to improve. This was my idea few years before to establish the players association in the State so that the standard of the football improves here,” said Wadoo.
Wadoo pledged the association will stand in support of the players who may face injustice in any form.
“The players associations in European countries are strong which has left no room for injustice to players. We will try to develop the association into a strong force so that no justice is meted out to the players. A player will be supported always for his betterment,” hoped Wadoo.
The soccer star dispelled the misconception that the association has been set up against the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association.
“There are rumors that the launch of this association will be anti-state football association. The rumors are baseless and we will work in coordination with the football association also whenever they need our help,” clarified Wadoo.
When asked to elaborate injustice meted out to players Wadoo said the soccer players in the last edition of Santosh Trophy are the live example before us who faced injustice.
“The State’s soccer players in the last years Santosh Trophy were the real talent in the Valley but unfortunately they have been dropped this year. The team sent for the biggest football tournament of the country recently is just there for participation. Such inexperienced team can’t be sent for high profile competitions,” said Wadoo.
Vice-president FPWA and University Football coach, Sajid Dar, said the idea to form the association was welcomed by the soccer players for the betterment of this game. “The association is very much needed in the State to let the football grow,” said Dar.
Dar said that State’s talent will be given platform to excel.
“We have the talented players but they lack proper guidance. We will give the talented players proper platform to so that they will also find a suitable niche for themselves in the world of football,” said Dar.
The association also announced that they will kick start their activities with the exhibition match. It will be a fun match in which state’s celebrities will play.

"FPWA ORGANISES AN EXHIBITION MATCH AND SRINAGAR MUNCIPAL CORPORATION SPONSORS"

WHY SHOUD FOOTBALLERS HAVE ALL THE FUN!


Stars of the different games share fun match at Polo Ground

Sajad Kralyari
Srinagar, June 18: It was a rare scene at Polo Ground on Thursday where former international footballers of the State played a friendly football match along with renowned players of the other games.

Organized by Football Players Welfare Association (FPWA), the football exhibition match proved to be feast for the spectators who were craving to see the old soccer stars of the State play football.

Besides former and present international footballers, the match also featured valley’s fast bowler, Sami-ul-ah Beigh, former Ranji players Qyoom Bagaw and current cricketers like Zahoor and Mudassir.

Valley’s international Kayaker, Zahoor Ahmad Latoo, and ace athlete and the top cyclist of the valley, Riyaz Ahmad Wani were also part of the fun match today.

Mohammad Yousuf Dar, Khursheed Baba, Mohammad Sayed, Mohammad
Aslam Dar and Zahoor Haroon were the notable faces among the former international footballers.

The star attractions of this fun match were Mehraj-ud-din Wadoo and Ishfaq Ahmad.
These renowned players were grouped into two teams-Commissioners XI and Mayor XI which the former won by 3-0 goals.

The players were excited after playing the match as it brought together all the former and the present players of different games.

“It was heartwarming to see the combination of players of the different games. Some of the young players wanted to see the skills of the former international footballers and they got the chance see them in this fun game,” said one of the former international footballers, Riyaz Ahmad Wani.

He said that such matches should be played at regular intervals to promote the game and provide fun to the lovers of this popular game.

The non-footballers were excited to be the part of the fun game.
“Kashmir is popular for football and I only used to watch this game. This match gave me the chance to taste this game also. This is an exciting stuff,” said the Valley’s pacer, Sami-ul-ah Beigh.
He also seconded the view that such games should be played frequently to promote the game.

Another International player in Kayaking and Canoeing, Zahoor Ahmad Latoo, said that the fun match is an exciting idea and should be introduced in other games also.
“I would have never got the chance to be a part football match which would feature star players. It was an irresistible offer for me when I was called to play in the match,” said Latoo.

The ace cyclist of the State, Riyaz Ahmad Wani, was happy to be the part of the match which featured Wadoo and Ishfaq.

“I would not have imagined playing along with international players. These friendly matches are organized outside the State where film stars also take part,” said Wani.

He said that the people had only heard of the names of the star players of the Valley but this match brought all the players together.

“People got the chance to see the star players of different games in the same ground. They were craving to see them and their wishes were fulfilled,” said Wani.
The match was organized by Football Players Welfare Association (FPWA) and sponsored by Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC). SMC had appointed one of its employee and the former general secretary Jammu and Kashmir Football Association, Bashir Ahmad Malik, as the coordinator of the matches.

Mayor SMC, Salman Sagar, was the chief guest while as Commissioner SMC and Director Information, Khawaja Farooq Ahmad Renzu, was the guest of honor on the occasion.

Promising the revival of SMC football team, Renzu, said that the football is popular in the Valley and SMC will take steps to promote the sports.

FPWA organises Seminar on Players' Injury Held In Srinagar - Goal.com

Seminar on Players' Injury Held In Srinagar - Goal.com

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Mehraj promoting football

Mehraj promoting football

JK footballers to form players association

GK NEWS NETWORK
Srinagar, May 18: In order to safeguard the interests of players, the valley footballers have decided to form an association which would also look into welfare of the players. This was disclosed to Greater Kashmir by soccer star and Indian football team member Meraj-ud-din Wadoo, who and other players had a meeting at Polo Ground and SP college grounds. The working of the association will be announced on May 23 at Polo Ground. It will be named JK Football Players Welfare Association. “We had a meeting with the soccer players of the Valley to form the association which will work for the welfare of the players,” said Wadoo. The body will be affiliated with Football Players Association of India. “All the footballers of the state irrespective of which team or club they are playing will be given representation. We are requesting all players to register themselves with us and be present at the Polo Ground during official announcement of the body,” he said.

Published in Greater Kashmir on May 19 2009 http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=19_5_2009&ItemID=1&cat=4