Mangalore, December 22: “Sports and games are not only for entertainment. They should also play a major role in the reformation of society,” said KK Suhail, National President of Student Islamic Organisation of India (SIO).

He was speaking after flagging off the five-day national level football tournament ‘SIO Reformation Cup 2010’ for SIO cadres at the Football Ground adjacent to Nehru Maidan here on Tuesday morning.

Suhail said that it is not possible to bring reforms in the society through slogans, speeches and rallies alone. “We require healthy youth who can actively deal with all fields of social life, promoting the religious values,” he said.

He also said that the first ever national level football tournament being organised in the city is indeed a kick start of a new domain in the platform of students’ Islamic movement for social reform.

PCM Kunhi, Director, Academics & Administration of Yenepoya University, who handed over the flag of ‘SIO Reformation Cup 2010’ to the captains of all the participating teams, said that sports is a means to develop discipline among youth.

Congratulating SIO for organising such an event in Mangalore, he said: “You have come to the forefront to venture a new arena in the field of sports and games”.

Dr CP Habeeb Rahman, Managing Director, of Unity Health Complex said that making youth participate in sports is one of the easiest ways to avoid many of the misdeeds and problems being created by them.

A total of eight teams including from SIO zones across India such as Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, West Bengal, Goa, Rajasthan and the Head Quarters team are taking part in this sports event being organised with a motto of cultivating the sense of brotherhood and constructive competitiveness among cadres of the organisation.

DM Aslam, President of DK Football Association, Husain Bolar, Secretary and Umesh, Governing body member of Karnataka State Football Association were among those present.

The event will conclude on Sunday, December 26, in the presence of National and State leaders of the organisation.