Football now in the heart and soul of British Sikhs

Tue, Jun 30, 2009 1:07:17

Leicester Football Tournament A Great Success.....Khalsa Football Federation

Great Opportunity For Professional Teams’ Scouts To Capture Young Sikh And Asian Football Talent..Manjit Singh Virdee

Singh Sabha Hounslow beat GSA Erith by two goals in the final of the Premier Division to win the Leicester football tournament held at Victoria Park, London Road, Leicester on 27th and 28th June 2009.

As in previous years members of the local teams FC Khalsa and GNG football club organised the annual tournament in which all rules and regulations of the Khalsa Football Federation were implemented.

After Coventry and Hounslow it was the city of Leicester who had the pleasure of hosting the festival of football which was watched by approximately 10,000 people in over which over 100 team participated over the weekend which had just about perfect football playing weather.

Senior games are always played on Saturdays with the Youth games and Semi finals and finals of the adults on Sundays. On Saturday 27th June all eight games in the kicked off at precisely 9.00 a.m.

In a very hard fought and extremely competitive final which was the repeat of the Hounslow tournament GSA Erith were aiming for their third successive Premier Division win this year whereas Singh Sabha Hounslow were attempting to beat the side to whom they had lost to in the final on 14th June.

In the end Singh Sabha Hounslow got their first Premier division final win of 2009. Singh Sabha Slough won the First Division; Shere Punjab Wolverhampton won the Second Division and Letchworth won the Third Division.

The manager of winners of the Premier Division Singh Sabha Hounslow Nilesh Gosai said “ The success of our team is due to our passing and movement when we have the ball. We base our play on keeping possession for as long as possible. We always try to play football by keeping the ball on the ground as long as possible and never try to rush. We train hard three times a week and lot of our success and credit is due to our coach Parminder Garcha”.

The honour of the Player of the tournament went to Jay Raj Jedeja of Singh Sabha Hounslow.

Explaining why he won the Man of the Match Jay pointed out “ The manager has installed confidence before the game. It is easy to play well in this team because the players play the game in the right way and always give 110%. I tried my hardest for the team and enjoyed every minute of the tournament. the team spirit and banter made it even more easy and enjoyable. This was my first full tournament and playing in the final made it extra special and I knew how to put 110% effort. I would like to thank the whole of Singh Sabha Hounslow Football Club for their support and thanks to Khalsa Football Federation for making it an unforgettable experience”.

Those who came to watch or support their teams included Aman Verma, a 21 year old midfielder who played for a number of years for FC Khalsa Leicester and is now signed by Championship side Leicester City, World Footballing Coach Terry Hall who is a former ‘Football in the Community ‘ coach at Leicester City Football Club, two youngsters playing at Leicester City Football Academy, one of the best footballers in Leicester who played as a forward for Sapna {the team everyone wanted to avoid in the tournaments} Shingara Singh Rai ‘Shanny’, and Kiranjit Singh Khatkar ‘Kooner’ who organised an excellent Vaisakhi Football Festival at Pride Park, Derby.

Kulvir Singh of FC Khalsa Leicester said “The Leicester tournament was very successful event with nearly 10,000 people watching it over the two days. It is an annual event for both the adults and youth sections with teams participating from length and breadth of the country. Success of the tournament is measured not only by the teams winning but the actual number of participating teams within both sections”.

The Leicester Football Tournament Co-ordinator Manjit Singh Virdee who loved to put the ball in the back of the net in his playing days commented “This has been the best tournament I have been involved in and it is a great opportunity for professional teams’ scouts to capture young Asian football talent”.

One onlooker who watched was present on both days said that the Leicester Tournament has been a wonderful festival of football, a celebration of Asian football at grassroots level.

YOUTH SECTION

The atmosphere for the Youth Section on Sundays at all the KFF football tournaments is so great, colourful, and family oriented that it really needs to be seen to be fully appreciated. In a similar sort of way to the ‘Play-Off ‘ in the professional game Youth teams who do not progress to the semi finals stage have a penalty shoot – out against each other. This is very popular and everyone converges around the goal area to see this and the player who scores or saves to win their team the penalty - shoot is usually found at the bottom of the ground and everyone else from his team on top of him.

In the first tournament held at Coventry – Smethwick Utd, Hounslow Colts and Sporting Khalsa Walsall won the Under 13s, Under 11s and Under 9s respectively. GAD Khalsa Derby, GNP Coventry, FC Khalsa Leicester won the penalty shoot – out for Under 15s, Under 13s and Under 11s.



In the Hounslow Tournament Singh Sabha Birmingham, Smethwick Utd, Hounslow Colts and GNP Coventry were the Under 15s, Under 13s, Under 11s and Under 9s winners respectively. FC Khalsa Leicester won the penalty – shoot out for the Under 15s and Under 13s. Smethwick Sikh Temple won the Under 11s.

The main match for the youth section was the Under 15s final which was a repeat of the Coventry Tournament and GNG Tigers Bedford played really attractive to watch football and were victorious against the local FC Khalsa Leicester team.

GNG Bedworth won all the KFF tournaments and the Bedford tournament in this youth group last year. This year they have been winners at Coventry and Leicester and were Runners Up at Hounslow. Their team manager Jadvinder Singh Nanda pointed out “ The level of football skills at the KFF tournaments in all age groups is good. The Leicester Tournament is well organised and played in good spirit. The success of our team is based on discipline, keeping the game simple, playing skillful football on the ground and enjoying it. If you do not enjoy playing football its not worth turning up”.

World Soccer Coach Terry Singh said “ The will, the passion we can see football will improve through better coaches – right from junior to senior level. yesterday while i was watching the adult games - it was not attractive football. We need to let the players be composed, relaxed and play simple football”.

One of the many Asian ladies who witnessed the youth games was Femina Ebrahim who came with her whole family and whose son plays for FC Khalsa Leicester commented “As a mother I came to watch the tournament for the first time. as well as having a fantastic time with impeccable hospitality it was amazing to see how much talent our children have. We need to continue to nurture their ability and encourage them to flourish. Well done to FC Khalsa of Leicester for the all their
hard work in training”.

On behalf of Leicester City Council Parks Services Jas Singh thanked the organisers for running the event smoothly and was pleased at the large number of young people enjoying themselves with their families.

Smethwick Sikh Temple Youth FC’s Malkit Singh Bahia said “ The football festival brings together the young Sikh community to enjoy themselves through sport and I would like to thank the Leicester Organising Committee for the work that it has put in”.

The General Secretary of Federation of Sikh Organisations Leicestershire Davinder Singh Dhesi said “ The tournament provided the opportunity for young talented footballers to showcase their talents in the presence of Scouts from Leicester City Football Club. The presence of so many families was most pleasing . We can break down barriers that discourage the participation of whole families in various sporting events”.


On behalf of Khalsa Football Federation Pritam Singh Mander, youth Secretary commented “ The Leicester tournament has been very well organised as it is every year. The football tournament has now become a family event with not only players and coaches, but also mums and sisters of the players. The football is played in good spirit by clubs from various communities across England.

Commenting on the two day football festival Kiranjit Singh Khatkar ‘Kooner’ of KFF saids “ The Leicester Tournament has been a huge success. The weather again was beautiful. We thank all the teams players, managers and supporters that have participated in this tournament. Also the KFF would like to thank the Leicester Organisers for making this tournament a success”.

RESULTS


ADULTS SECTION

PREMIER DIVISION
WINNERS ...................... SINGH SABHA HOUNSLOW
RUNNERS UP ................GSA ERITH

FIRST DIVISION
WINNERS.........................SINGH SABHA SLOUGH
RUNNERS UP...................GNG BEDFORD

SECOND DIVISION
WINNERS................SHERE PUNJAB WOLVERHAMPTON
RUNNERS UP..........FC SANDWELL

THIRD DIVISION
WINNERS .................LETCHWORTH
RUNNERS UP...........SMETHWICK UNITED


YOUTH SECTION
UNDER 15s
WINNERS..............GNG TIGERS BEDFORD
RUNNERS UP.......FC KHALSA LEICESTER

UNDER 13s
WINNERS..............GNG LEICESTER
RUNNERS UP........GNP COVENTRY

UNDER 11s
WINNERS...............GNG LEICESTER
RUNNERS UP.........SINGH SABHA HOUNSLOW

UNDER 9s
WINNERS................SPORTING KHALSA WALSALL
RUNNERS UP..........FC KHALSA LEICESTER


with thanks : source : http://www.emgonline.co.uk/news.php?news=6014

SikhsIndia
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A Sikh web portal

Aussie teens try to cut Sikh youth's hair

30 Jun 2009, 1144 hrs IST, PTI

MELBOURNE: In yet another racial attack on Indian students in Australia, a 22-year-old Sikh youth was assaulted by a group of six teenagers, who tried to remove his turban and cut the hair.

Resham Singh, a student of hospitality course who came from Punjab six months ago, became the 20th victim within a month when he was attacked on Monday at Dandenong Station here.

Singh, who could not speak English properly, explained in Punjabi that "They first abused me and left and then again came back with more people and also got a pair of scissors along with them. They tried to remove my turban and cut my hair."

"My friends tried to save me," he said, adding "education agent back in India never gave me any information of how hard life will be here."

The attackers were later arrested by the police, Victoria police confirmed the arrest of the two persons but withheld the identity of the victim.

"The youths from Dandenong -- aged 13 and 15 years -- were charged with intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly causing serious injury and assault in company," a police spokesperson said.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has declared "zero tolerance" against attacks on students including Indians. Victorian police have also announced an initiative to mount stronger patrolling around train stations to curb any such crime.

"I came to know from my college friends about the job market and other information like safety and security issues when I reached here," Singh commented.

He said though the episode has shaken him he will continue his course and eventually get permanent residency.

Singh pointed out that he took a job of trolley pushing through his friend as he was not getting any job due to his appearance.

"No one was ready to hire me as I have beard and turban," he claimed.

Interestingly, most of the students who have been attacked are either a student of cookery, hospitality or community services courses studying in cut price private college.

These students who live far from family networks of home try to meet costs of expensive living as compared to Indian standards by working late nights and doing odd jobs like cleaning, sweeping, driving cabs or at petrol stations.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sikh-student-becomes-20th-Indian-victim-in-Australia/articleshow/4719298.cms

SikhsIndia
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Reg. : 20% relaxation in cut off to sikh students

Dr. Ravindar Singh Bajaj
Consultant Paediatrician
Delhi.

SS Akal,

I have gone through the blog of Cambride scholarship ,a good thing for the community by the leaders. But I wish to highlight an other dilemma by sikh children which need urgent attention.

Admission in Delhi Univesity.

Perosnnaly I am against any kind of reservation and in favour of giveing moneatry and other support for underpriliged.But the recent policy of St Stephen and Jeus and Mary college to give upto 40% reservation to christian students irrespective of score.

This led to demand by sikh students also and SGGSCC and SGTB colleges gave 3% relaxation in cut off to sikh studnets in admission . But today,s newpaper Hindustan times carried a news regarding the recent resolution of SGTB gioverning body to give 20% relaxation in cut off to sikh students. Delhi University has refused to accept the resolution. Now the sikh students are confused . Is Delhi University Ok with 3 % relaxation and has problem with 20% relaxation? Or it is completely against any relaxation?? even3%,

I request you to get this clarification from all concerned this point immediately as 2nd cut off list is sheduled for tomrorrow. the future of Sikh students is at stake. I request to publish it on your website whatever the reply is

Sincerely

Dr Bajaj

Hem Kunt Sahib Yatra - Photo Gallery

View pics of Hem Kunt sahib yatra on the Sikh web portal www.sohnijodi.com
It contains pics of beautiful way as well sarovar & Gurdwara sahib. A pic of Guru ji da Baaj is also there.

SikhsIndia
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SGPC teams up with UK varsity for scholarships to Sikh students

Express News Service
Posted: Saturday , Jun 27, 2009 at 0301 hrs IST

Ludhiana:
Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to institute scholarships in collaboration with University of Cambridge (UK) for needy and meritorious Sikh students for research studies leading to M.Phil or Ph.D degrees.

Addressing the press conference, Avtar Singh Makkar, president of SGPC, informed that the SGPC had received a proposal from Department of Human Resources, University of Cambridge (UK) in the month of February, 2009, regarding providing opportunities to students of Indian nationality from the Sikh community, who are of outstanding academic ability, to study at the Cambridge for programmes regarding M.Phil and Ph.d degrees.

For this purpose, Michel O’Sullivan Joseph, Director of Cambridge Commonwealth Trust, arrived yesterday to discuss modalities for creation of scholarships. Cambridge Commonwealth Trust grants about 860 scholarships to commonwealth students, who are meritorious and fullfil the eligibility for admission to Cambridge University, UK.

Makkar said Michel O’Sullivan Joseph visited important institutions of higher education of SGPC yesterday accompanied by Director Education SGPC. Michel O’Sullivan Joseph held a meeting with Makker in which the Director, Education, and principals of the colleges of SGPC and Agya Paul Singh from Ludhiana participated. It was decided in principal to institute scholarships for needy and meritorious Sikh students to study at Cambridge (UK) for their M-Phill and Ph.D degrees.

Makkar said the amount of scholarships will be shared as 50% each between the SGPC and Cambridge Commonwealth Trust. Scholarships will be granted through SGPC-Cambridge University Education Foundation, which will have members from India and abroad.

with thanks : source : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/SGPC-teams-up-with-UK-varsity-for-scholarships-to-Sikh-students/481960

SikhsIndia
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Sikh personalities : Sd. Jatinder singh Shunty

SikhsIndia
26th June, 2009

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Seva Dal is a Government Registered social and national voluntary organization founded with the view to serve mankind. Free Cremation to helpless and unclaimed bodies along with Immersion of ashes, Blood donation, Free Ambulance, Free Hearse, Free medicine for T.B. patients, Free Artificial Limbs and Rickshaws for Handicapped ,and a lot more, is being done by this organization.

Jatinder Singh 'Shunty’ is the man behind East Delhi’s biggest social service organization. He say’s, “I request all the men and women, young and old to come forward to implement various programs of the organization vigorously. New suggestions and ideas are welcome. Those who are interested to see the organization working more efficiently can enlighten us with their thoughts, intentions and schemes.” He adds, “We welcome public participation in the country's unity and integrity, to become active member of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Seva Dal and thereby, volunteer in the human service of our great mother india.”

The achievements of this institution are being uploaded with the appeal to cooperate in this noble and national cause and for further progress of this institution having the aim of services to the mankind following the foot prints of mother Teressa and Bhagat Pooram Singh Ji.

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Delegation from the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Religion & Worldview, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

SikhsIndia
25th June, 2009

A delegation from the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Religion & Worldview, K.U.Leuven, Belgium is to visit India in the month of August, 2009 to Study the Indian Religions. Prof. Bert Broeckert, from the Department of Theology from Katholieke University, Leuven, Belgium is coming to India as a part of their University's Summer Course Programme on Indian Religion.( along with a group of 34 European students who are 20+21 years of age & two other senior Ph.D Students: Miss Goedele Baeke & Mr.Joris Gielen).

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur, a reader in the University of Delhi ( PH.D with title of Thesis , The Concept of State in Sikhism with Special Reference to Guru Granth Sahib) has arranged the visit to Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib. DSGMC President Sd. Param jit singh Sarna as well Sd. Tarjeet singh Nagi, Member DSGMC have arranged the stay at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib for three days as asked.

SikhsIndia
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Frequent strikes force Sikhs to leave Nepal

Kathmandu, June 24: The frequent strikes across Nepal have not only crippled daily life, but have badly hit the business of Sikh community forcing majority of its members to emigrate to India.

For the Sikh community living in Birgunj, a southern Nepalese town bordering India, the frequent strike and shut down have even crippled their livelihood.

The Sikhs, who came from India decades back and now engaged in transport business, are suffering the most and many have already left the country, The Kathmandu Post reported.

Gurudwara Guru Nanak Satsang, a religious organisation of the Sikh community in Birgunj revealed that more than 90 per cent of the Sikh families in the city have already left for India to find safe place to continue their business.

"There were 452 Sikh families in Birgunj until six years back. Now only 29 families remain," Nanak Singh, chief of the organisation, was quoted as saying by the paper.

There are almost 200 days shut downs and strikes, local and national ones, either in hill areas, Terai or Kathmandu in a year these days, forcing many people to quit their business.

Nanak Singh said Sikhs from other parts of the country are folding up their businesses as well.

Bureau Report
with thanks : source : http://www.zeenews.com/news541828.html
with thanks Map from : http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcnepal.htm


SikhsIndia
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Sikhs are hardcore poor, too

Sikhs are hardcore poor, too
By : Jaspal Singh


IPOH: One in every 20 Sikhs living in Perak is a hardcore poor, according to Sikh community leaders.

This information so astounded Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir that he has decided to include the eradication of hardcore poverty among Sikhs in his administration's action plan.

Speaking to the New Straits Times here yesterday after meeting the Union of Perak Sikh Organisations (Upso) at his office, he said the data on hardcore poor within the community took him by surprise.

"Like many others, my worldview of the Sikhs has been that they don't have severe socio-economic problems like other communities.

"But, after listening to Sikh leaders talking about the level of hardcore poverty in the community, I must say that it did shock me."

He said the state government viewed the issue of hardcore poverty seriously.

The community's hardcore poor numbers around 1,500, constituting about 400 families or 5 per cent of the total 28,000 Sikhs in the state.

Leaders of Upso, an umbrella body representing seven Sikh non-governmental organisations, met Zambry to highlight various problems faced by the state's Sikh community.

The group also highlighted the need for state government intervention to help with issues involving single mothers, language and education.

Zambry also pledged to look into land problems faced by several gurdwara sahib.

The dialogue with Zambry yesterday was arranged by his Chinese affairs adviser Datuk Chang Ko Youn, who is also Gerakan deputy president.

Zambry, who spent almost two hours listening to Sikh leaders, also agreed to the setting up of a Sikh advisory body so that it would be easier for the community to bring up its problems directly with the state government.

"I encourage the Sikhs in the state to unite behind one organisation or body so that it will be easy to deal with the state government and vice-versa. I think the board proposal is good one and ought to be studied and implemented."

In the meantime, he said Upso could act as an intermediary between the community and the state government.

with thanks : source : http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/National/2589596/Article/index_html

SikhsIndia
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Sikh matrimonial - free service to the community

www.sohnijodi.com has started its "Sikh Matrimonial - free service to the community" , for the benefit of Sikh community all over the world.You have to send a mail to SOHNIJODI with your profile with or without a pic, and it will be uploaded free of cost on the Sikh web portal www.sohnijodi.com. The portal which covers Sikh news, views, pics, vids, and a lot more about sikhism, received 8,641 visitors with 83,574 hits in the month of June, 2009. Sohnijodi is not a match maker. It's just giving a wide coverage of your profile to the visitors of its portal.You can chat at Yahoo ID sohnijodi in this regard.

SikhsIndia
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Invitation to American Sikhs to join the police force

The Yuba City Police Department has given a confirmation to the SALDEF (Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund) to join the police forces.

They have issued the confirmation saying they have always respected the Sikh identity and would continue to do so in the future. According to current Yuba City Police Chief Robert D. Landon, "Our policy has not changed and we continue to respect the customs of the Sikh faith"

Earlier on January 23, 2007, Richard Doscher, former Yuba City Police Chief had written to SALDEF, ”We have no policy which precludes an employee of the Sikh faith from wearing a turban or beard (or possession of a kirpan) during their employment with us.”

SALDEF has expressed its gratefulness to the Yuba City Police Department and Chief Landon for providing equal job opportunities for Sikh Americans willing to join as law enforcement officers. It also hopes other Police departments will also adopt a similar policy.

Meanwhile, Richmond, CA Police Department has also welcomed Sikh Americans to join the police forces.

Richmond Police Department’s Chief Chris Magnus confirmed that, “The Richmond Police Department welcomes applications from members of the Sikh community for the position of police officer as well as other jobs within the Police Department. We recognize and take pride in serving a diverse community which we are aware includes a significant number of Sikhs.

“Our department continually looks for applicants who represent the diversity of the community and we appreciate the value they bring to our agency. Any employee who is of the Sikh faith would not be prohibited from wearing a turban or having a beard. We encourage anyone who would like information about employment opportunities with the Richmond Police Department to contact us."

with thanks : source : http://www.emgonline.co.uk/news.php?news=5845

SikhsIndia
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