STATE TIMES NEWS
GUREZ: The maiden Mega Football tournament concluded in Gurez on Tuesday with SFA Football Club emerging as winners.
This event which was first of its kind at Gurez received huge acclaim and participation and was organised by the District Administration, Bandipora in collaboration with ELFA International under the guidance of Dr. Owais Ahmad District Development Commissioner (DDC) Bandipora and overall supervision of Mohammad Ashraf Hakak, ADDC Bandipora.
Among others present at the finals were Mohammad Ashraf Hakak ADDC Bandipora, DR. Mudasir, SDM Gurez, Bashir Ahmad SDPO Gurez.
The final match ended up in a round of penalties and SFA Football club emerged as winners, Sports Club Bandipora Dawar football came up as the runner up and Dawar Football club as the 2nd Runner up. Zakir Hussain Dar was awarded Man of the tournament
The event which was kick-started by SDM Gurez on 1st of July concluded here on 5th of July 2022 and witnessed huge participation of people who had gathered from Gurez and adjacent areas.
The event not only provided a rare occasion to the players to showcase their talent and sportsmanship, but provided the spectators with a climax of entertainment and show.
The people appreciated the efforts of district administration and ELFA International for making the event possible and also asked the ELFA International to continue such events in future too. The people also hailed the ELFA International for its tireless efforts in the field of humanitarian sector and requested the organisation to extend its educational and healthcare programs in the area.
The ADDC said in his speech that the District Administration Bandipora and sub divisional administration is committed to the overall and holistic growth and development of youth.
Hakak, while complimenting Elfa international, appreciated its efforts in carrying these activities far and wide to all corners of the Union territory. He ensured the administration’s active support to events like these which not only provide positive engagement to the youth but also act as anti-drug addiction agents.
The event was also graced by SDPO Gurez, Bashir Ahmad. He appreciated the initiatives taken up by ELFA international in the direction of youth leadership programs, drug de-addiction via sports activities and the overall spectrum of their humanitarian and social work.
He said that the administration aspires to take these events to all zones of district Bandipora and expressed his intent to collaborate with ELFA international to organise events like these in future too.
The winning team was given a cash award of Rs. 50,000 and the runner-up team received a cash prize of Rs. 25,000, second Runner- Up received a cash of Rs. 15,000 and each participating team was presented a token of appreciation of Rs. 3000 to encourage them and enhance their sporting activities from ELFA International.
Dr Mudasir Ahmad SDM Gurez, emphasised the role of such programs in places like Gurez which are otherwise cut off and therefore left alone from the mainstream buzz of the state and people lack the requisite exposure.
Mehran Khan, CEO of ELFA International said that the program was an extension of ELFA International’s initiative in youth leadership, sports and the Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign.