UAE ‘Sahebaan’ Family Get-Together brings together over a thousand community members in Dubai
Dr Safwan, Mateen Chilmi, Shafi Shaban, Iqbal Manna conferred with ‘Sahebaan Excellence Awards’
Dubai: Dubai witnessed a grand and vibrant celebration as UAE ‘Sahebaan’ organised its annual Family Get-Together on January 10, Saturday at the Al Khisais Amity School campus. The day-long event, held from 10 am to 9 pm, brought together families, children and community members in large numbers.
The programme featured a wide range of competitions, entertainment activities and cultural events throughout the day. UAE ‘Sahebaan’, a collective representing the Sahebaan community within the Urdu-speaking Muslim population from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, has been consistently organising the Family Get-Together in Dubai every year with great enthusiasm and scale. This year’s event was marked by the participation of over a thousand people, including children and families, making it particularly special.
Sahebaan Excellence Awards presented
As part of the programme, the annual Sahebaan Excellence Awards were presented to individuals who have excelled in various fields. The awards were conferred by chief guests and dignitaries including noted NRI businessman and social worker KS Nissar Ahamed, owner of Nash Engineering, Dubai; UAE Sahebaan coordinator H.M. Afroz Assadi; and special guest K.S. Imthiyaz Ahmed, President of KMES Educational Institutions, Karkala.
The Sahebaan Academic Excellence Award was presented to Dr. Safwan Ahmed, a neurologist based in Doha, Qatar. The Sahebaan Business Excellence Award was conferred on Mateen Ahmed Chilmi, Managing Director of Petrosolutions, Dubai. The Sahebaan Sports Excellence Award was given to Mohammed Shafi Shaban for his contribution to sports promotion, while the Sahebaan Community Service Award was presented to social worker Mohammed Iqbal Manna from Udupi.
On the occasion,KS Nissar Ahamed, H.M. Afroz Assadi and K.S. Imthiyaz Ahmed, Karkala, were also felicitated. Several other eminent personalities were honoured, including Nazimuddin (Nazim) Mohammed, President of Petro Gas Piping, Dubai; Yaseen Malpe, Founder Director of Vartha Bharati; Udupi District Rajyotsava awardee Dr. Sheikh Wahid Dawood; former Jamiat-ul-Falah president Abdul Latheef Saheb; Mumtaz Hussain and Ashfaq Ahmed from Qatar; and Abdul Azeez Udyavar.
Academic Excellence Awards for students
Students from the Sahebaan community residing in the UAE who achieved outstanding academic and sports performance were recognised with Academic Excellence Awards. The awards were presented by H.M. Afroz Assadi along with women organisers Farveen Assadi and Reena Altaf.
Razeena Beg (91%), a native of Vitla studying at Mayoor Private School, Abu Dhabi; Anam Aslam (95.30%), a native of Mangaluru studying at Our Own English High School, Sharjah; Mohammed Ibrahim (90.50%), a native of Udupi studying at GEMS Our Own English High School, Sharjah; Ameerah Qazi Abdul Khader Qazi (96.60%), a native of Gangolli studying at The Central School, Dubai; Simrah Khan Nadeem (91.20%), a native of Mangaluru studying at Al Ameer English School, Ajman; and Nuha Riyaz Khalife from Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University, a native of Mangaluru, were honoured with the Academic Excellence Award for securing high marks in the 10th standard.
In sports, Mohammed Aiz, a football player from GEMS Legacy School, Dubai, a native of Mangaluru, was congratulated and presented with the Sports Excellence Award by the dignitaries present at the ceremony.
Financial assistance announcement
On the occasion, KS Nissar Ahamed announced financial assistance for Sahebaan community students who are unable to pursue higher education after PUC due to economic constraints. He also announced financial support for the marriage of underprivileged girls from the community. This was informed by Althaf M.S. of the Sahebaan community.
Day-long sports and cultural activities
Various sports competitions and recreational activities were organised throughout the day for senior citizens, youngsters, women and children. Participants enthusiastically took part, sharing moments of joy and togetherness.
The event included cooking competitions, quizzes, fun games for all age groups and several entertaining contests that drew large participation. Hundreds took part in these activities, making them a major attraction.
The evening cultural programme began with Quran recitation by Haroon Naveed, followed by an Islamic Nasheed sung by 22 children. A special ‘Teddy & Me’ performance by 16 young children delighted the audience, while a children’s Qawwali performance received warm appreciation. The programme also featured the national anthem, a children’s skit, and prize distribution to winners of various competitions.
Videos highlighting the journey of the Sahebaan organisation and the contributions of KS Nissar Ahamed, noted businessman Hidayatullah Abbas, Chairman of the Hidayath Group, and H.M. Afroz Assadi was screened. Gifts and raffle draw prizes were also distributed during the event.
Organisers and anchoring
The event was organised with the support of Alhtaf M.S., Akram, Ajmal Mohammed, Althaf Khalifa, Mohammed Sameeullah, Suhail Kudroli, Mohammed Asif, Nayeem Khan, and women organisers Farveen Assadi, Reena Althaf and Sahar Asif.
Althaf M.S. delivered the welcome address, while Ajmal Mohammed proposed the vote of thanks. The entire day’s programme was smoothly compered by Hisrar Tallani from Mangaluru and Aliya Imtiyaz Khan.
The UAE ‘Sahebaan’ Family Get-Together concluded on a note of unity, celebration and community bonding.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
