Srinagar, Sep 30: With the aim to revive football and honour former legendary footballers of the Valley the J&K Football Association (JKFA) is going to organise Veterans’ football match at Polo Ground here on Tuesday.
 The JKFA recently initiated processes to revive Football and for that it took various initiatives. To honour the former legends of the valley is step in that direction. For that the JKFA conveyed an interaction with former footballers at Polo ground on Friday. Almost all the former legends of valley like Abdul Majeed Reshi, Muhammad Yousuf Dar, Muhammad Ismail Chapri, Muhammad Sultan Wadoo, Ghulam Muhammad Kumar, Manzoor Ahmad Ahmad Kanth, Muhammad Hamid, Surjit and various others.
 Speaking on the occasion JKFA president Zamir Ahmad Thakur hailed the contribution of the legends towards football of Valley.
 Terming their phase as golden phase of football in theValley he said, “I have no hesitation in saying that the phase in which you played was the golden phase of JK football and we are proud of you. If we are still able to produce national and international level players, it is only because the contribution you have put into it.”
 On the occasion JKFA president requested former players to be attached with JKFA directly and give their suggestions from time to time for improving its standard.
 “It is part of our efforts to honour former stalwarts and to revive football in Valley. They have been attached with JKFA indirectly but now we want them to be associated with us directly. If we have to revive football here then we need their guidance at each and every step. I think we have succeeded in that effort of ours as all of them unanimously agreed to help us” Zamir told Greater Kashmir.
 Apart from interaction and get together with the former stalwarts, the JKFA also has decided to organise Veterans football match on sidelines of Rahim Greens Super League final at Polo ground on Tuesday.
 The match would be played between JKFA-XI and Rahim Greens-XI. In it almost all the former footballers of Valley would be participating.
 Hailing the initiative former footballer, Muhammad Ismail Chapri said, “It is first time in 40-year history of JKFA that we have been honoured and invited to put forward our suggestion. We are really honoured and JKFA president and his office deserve applause for it.”
 Among others present on the occasion were Rahim Greens owner Abdul Hameed, former JKFA general secretary Bashir Ahmad Malik, JKFA secretary Abdul Hameed, resident treasurer Fayaz Ahmad Sofi and others.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 1 Oct 2011 00:00:00 IST