UAE-based businessman Dr Shamsheer to gift Kerala team Rs10m if they win Santosh Trophy

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, a UAE-based Malayali entrepreneur, has offered to donate Rs1 crore (Rs10 million) to the Kerala football team if they win the national football competition in Malappuram on Monday.

Dr Shamsheer, chairman and managing director of VPS Healthcare, took to Twitter and announced the prize money for the Kerala football team if they win the tournament.

Dr Shamsheer is the chairman and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare and is also the son-in-law of billionaire businessman MA Yusuf Ali.

Kerala are aiming to win their seventh title and are all set to meet traditional rivals West Bengal on Monday evening at the Manjeri Payyanad Stadium in Malappuram.

“It’s heartening to watch Kerala playing the final of the Santosh Trophy. The team displayed fantastic performances throughout the tournament. I hope they will be able to lift one of the most coveted trophies in Indian football,” said Dr Shamsheer, who is a sports enthusiast.

Dr Shamsheer had earlier given a cash prize of Rs10 million to the Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh after the team scripted a historic win at the Tokyo Olympics.

The announcement of the cash prize by Dr. Shamsheer will also serve as encouragement for upcoming football talents in the state.

The match between the two powerhouses of football in the country, Kerala and West Bengal, will witness a high-octane clash. Kerala had already defeated West Bengal 2-0 in the group stages.

The tournament, hosted by Kerala after a break, has pumped up the fans. The team treated the fans to some brilliant performances, especially in the semi-finals when they secured a 7-3 victory against Karnataka.

The team with 32 titles in the history of the tournament, West Bengal, is all set to make up for their 2017 final loss to Kerala at the Salt Lake Stadium, when they were defeated in the tiebreakers.