Mehraj & Ishfaq to spearhead J&K XI in ties vs Md Sporting

Jammu&Kashmir rarely in recent years has seen their best footballers - Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Ishfaq Ahmed - in action. In the coming days they will get the chance to do that twice as the duo will be in action for a Jammu&Kashmir XI against Kolkata giants Mohammedan Sporting Club on July 15 and 17.

For the football fans in Srinagar and Baramulla it will be a chance to catch some quality football, while the beautiful game is also spread across the Valley.

The series of matches is an initiative to promote football in the Valley and it has come from a surprising quarter, the central government. Initially the so-called 'National Club of India' Mohun Bagan AC were asked to travel to Kashmir, but after they declined as the matches didn't fit into their pre-season plans Mohammedan Sporting was asked and they readily agreed to travel as they thought these matches would be ideal for their preparations.

The Jammu&Kashmir Football Association has named 23 players in an initial list and will cut it down to 20 which will then play Mohammedan Sporting Club, who also have their fans in Jammu&Kashmir who will get a rare glimpse of the Kolkata giants.


Jammu&Kashmir XI

Goalkeepers
Vikramjeet Singh (J&K Bank), Reyaz Ahmad (J&K Police)

Defenders
Waseem Feroze (J&K Bank), Aman Thapa (J&K Bank), Mansoor (J&K Forest), Azhar (J&K Forest), Ramesh (J&K Police), Muhammad Yaseen (J&K Police), Kanwaljeet (Mumbai FC), Vinay Kumar (J&K Police)

Midfielders
Mehrajuddin Wadoo (Mohun Bagan AC), Rohit Kumar (J&K Bank), Khalid Qayoonm (J&K Bank), Rizwamn Shafi (J&K Forest), Sameer Hussain (J&K Forest), Asif Majeed (J&K Police), Sandeep (J&K Police), Shahnawaz (AG Office)

Strikers
Ishfaq Ahmed (East Bengal Club), Imran Manzoor Wangnoo (J&K Forest), Taufeeq (J&K Forest),Shahid Mushtaq (J&K Forest), Irfan (JKPDC)

Officials
Abdul Majeed Kakroo (Coach), Bashir Ahmad Malik (Manager), Dr. Ashiqui (Physio)

J&K Footballers get state award

Two footballers - Arun Malhotra and Mehrajuddin Wadoo - were amongst the recipients of the Jammu&Kashmir State awards which where presented on May 14 to 71 people from all walks of life for the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

The awards were handed over by the Governor N. N. Vohra, while the J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was Chief Guest and his Deputy Tara Chand the Guest of Honour on the occasion.

It is a big honour for Indian international midfielder Mehrajuddin Wadoo and former international defender Arun Malhotra, who both where present for the occasion.

Arun Malhotra said about receiving the award, "This is the highest honour of Jammu&Kashmir and when you get recognition from your state it is always appreciated. I am honoured and it means a lot to me."

But the former East Bengal and Mahindra United player, "Sadly our state government is lacking to recognise outstanding sports personalities who have have done our state proud. There is a lot of work which we put into our sport and therefore I especially would like to thank all those people, who have helped and supported me in my career."

The same can be said about Mehrajuddin Wadoo, who not only plays football but tries to give back to the society and to the beautiful game.

A belated congratulation from me to Arun & Mehraj!!!

Mehrajuddin Wadoo gets 2011 Lion Award

Indian international footballer Mehrajuddin Wadoo, who is part of the squad for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, has been named as the winner of the 2011 Lion Award by the Jammu and Kashmir chapter of All India Boys Scouts. It is a big honour for the 26 year old Srinagar born Kashmiri footballer, who plays for Kolkata giants East Bengal Club in the Indian football circuit.

The executive committee of J&K Scouts and Guides Association, an affiliate of All India Boys Scouts, said Wadoo brought "international prestige" to the sports fraternity of the state.

"The news of Wadoo's selection in the Indian squad for Asian Cup has made the Jammu and Kashmir state proud. All India Boys Scouts, J&K Chapter, has decided to honour Wadoo with 2011 Lion award for his contribution to football," the Association said in a statement.

It is another feather in the cap for Mehraj, who amongst other things has founded the 'Football Players Welfare Association' in Jammu&Kashmir on the lines of the Football Players Association of India to support former footballers and enable talented youngsters to take-up football as a profession.

Talking about the award Mehraj said, "As far as the award is concerned its an honour to receive any award! I have also been nominated for a state award as the best sports person of 2008 in Jammu&Kashmir and was supposed to collect it on July 14, 2010; but due to the problems in Kashmir the state government hasn't been able to organise an award ceremony."

Now Mehraj will at least have two award ceremonies to attend when he comes back from Qatar after the Asian Cup.

My heartiest congratulations to Mehraj!!!