While profitability and increasing customer loyalty are the rewards for commercial enterprises, awards and citations are among the best means to promote and project sporting talent in the community, a leading businessperson has said.
According to Nilesh Prakash, Managing Director of Food 4 Less Supermarkets (Otahuhu and New Lynn), it is important to encourage youngsters to play the games in which they are adept and promote them at club, community, district, state and national levels.
His Company is the Sponsor of the ‘Best Senior Division Soccer Player of the Year’ category of the Indian Newslink Indian Sports Awards for the second year in succession.
Timely encouragement
“We have many young men and women in our community who do not get the opportunity and support to play the game of their choice adequately and appropriately. I am sure that the Indian Sports Awards will be a great source of encouragement and bring the best out of them,” he said.
Stating that the need to recognise and reward sports achievers in the Indian community was long overdue. Mr Prakash said that the Awards will grow from strength to strength year after year and evince wider interest of New Zealanders.
“I am reassured of the robust judging process of the Sports Awards, which would be similar to the well-established procedure for Business Awards,” he said.
A panel of judges, independent of this newspaper, ownership and management, are currently evaluating entries received in the various categories of the Sports Awards.
Mr Prakash said that his decision to sponsor the Award this years was almost instantaneous, based on the success of the Scheme last year.
“It does not take long to decide on such a great initiative. We have always been with Indian Newslink to promote our company, its image, product and services and we see the Sports Awards Scheme as another great avenue to not only to enhance our image in the market but also encourage our sportsmen and sportswomen to improve their performance,” he said.
Mr Prakash said Soccer is a major sport in which the Indian Community is heavily involved, along with other ethnic groups.
“The Awards Scheme is a great way to encourage and support our young enthusiasts to participate in the sport they love,” he said.
Editor’s Note: Nominations to the various categories of the Awards closed on March 8, 2013. The names of finalists and winners will be announced at the Awards Night to be held on Saturday, April 6, at ASB Stadium in Auckland’s Kohimarama. Tickets cost $70 plus GST per person. For details, please contact Ravin Lal, Managing Director and Publisher, Indian Newslink on (09) 5336377 or on mobile 021-753699. Email: ravin@indiannewslink.co.nz
