Vijayan to be chief guest at Realex FC Challengers Trophy

I M Vijayan, former professional Indian football player, will be the chief guest at the first Realex FC Challengers Trophy 7s football tournament which will be held on November 29 at the Al Hail ground, the organisers announced.

Nearly 16 to 20 teams from across the country will be participating in the nerve-wracking one-of-its-kind tourney that will bring out the best players around.

“The first Realex FC Challengers Trophy 7s football tournament will host several Master players in and around Oman as each of the 16 to 20 teams can bring a foreign player as a visiting player in their team,” said Shanavas Majeed, MD of Realex Company, sponsor of the club.

As many as 16 teams have already registered with the Realex and the cutoff date for applying and registering with the group is today, November 24, till 8pm.

“This Realex FC tournament for Challengers Trophy is aimed at involving both old and new players from across the country and in reducing the work pressure and job related stress from our young population,” Majeed added.

Side by side, there will be a Unity Soccer Academy football show match for children on the same day and it will be purely an entertainment event for the audience from different walks of life.

As to the future plans, Sam Varghese, co-founder and player of the Realex club, and FA certified coach said the club is all set to attract major regional teams and conduct a regional football tournament that will be the most sought-after football event next only to the Gulf Cup.

“We are ambitious of conducting a regional tourney engaging all the major teams form GCC countries and that will be a class on its own,” Varghese said.

Similarly, a new club will be formed next year for both Omani and expatriate children where they will be given training from beginners to advanced and help them participate international events, the sponsors added.

Akbar E Aboobacker, executive director, Sun International LLC and Said, a well known player were also present at the press briefing.