Sahal Sahesh Rafeeque has been selected to play in the 6th international football tournament, which will be held by FC Barcelona in Spain from April 9 to 14. The FC Barcelona Tournament is conducted for the teams from FC Academies all over the world. Sahal is the only Indian representing the Under-11 Saudi FC Barcelona Team from Riyadh. Spotting his talent in soccer his father used to take him for local matches and training centers. Soon he proved to be a cut above his friends and it paved his way to FCB Riyadh. Prior to joining FCB he was under the training of Al-Yamamah Academy, Riyadh, for one year. The 5th Grade student of Modern Middle East International School Riyadh, Sahal is the eldest son of Sahesh Rafeeque and Samreen who hail from Kannur, a south Indian city in Kerala state, which is renowned for football. His grandfather Abdul Rafeeque was a famed soccer player in Kerala. He was a member of the famous Calicut University football team, which won the All-India Inter-University Championship. After playing for professional side Customs and Central Excise Cochin, he shifted to Saudi Arabia and served a renowned business establishment for several years. He was instrumental in starting the JSC Academy in Jeddah and DSC Academy in Dammam. He is so proud of his grandson. The Modern Middle East International School, his teachers and classmates lend big support to this emerging little striker Sahal. — SG
