Aston Villa legend Ian Taylor presents ICSS president Mohamed Hanzab with an official club jersey.

Agencies/Birmingham

ICSS president Mohamed Hanzab was welcomed as a special guest by Aston Villa FC yesterday as part of the club’s acknowledgement of save the dream’s involvement in the recent Delhi Dreams project.
The celebrations, which took place during Saturday’s Premier League match at Villa Park between Aston Villa and Chelsea, included a programme of activities that acknowledge save the dream’s partnership with the Delhi Dreams project – a special football tournament with Villa in the Community, the club’s official charity, and CEQUIN (Center for Equity and Inclusion) that aims to improve the lives of young girls living in slum areas of New Delhi, India.
The highlight was a half-time presentation on the field of play where Aston Villa legend Ian Taylor presented Hanzab with an official club jersey and a video featuring Delhi Dream was shown to the sold-out crowd on the big screen.
Speaking of save the dream’s involvement in the programme, Ravinder Masih, Director of Villa in the Community, said: “Save the dream played an essential role in the success of the Delhi Dreams project and on behalf of Aston Villa Football Club, I would like to thank Mohammed and the ICSS for their involvement in the programme, as well as their ongoing commitment to educating and encouraging young people through sport.
“Delhi Dreams has given many young girls from poorer areas of Delhi an opportunity to play sport and make new friends. I would like to thank all partners involved with this project, especially Mohamed and the team at save the dream, and I look forward to continuing our work at Villa in the Community, which hopes to make a positive impact on people through football.”
ICSS president, said, “I would like to thank all those at Aston Villa Football Club, as well as the fans, who made this day truly special.
“However, it is worth highlighting that today is not about the ICSS or save the dream. Today is about recognising the value of sport to society and how it can enhance the lives of young people.
“The Delhi Dreams project with CEQUIN and Aston Villa Football Club is just part of save the dreams ongoing efforts to promote and protect the values of sport and its integrity, as well as encouraging organisations to use sport to educate and inspire young people.
“As part of the ICSS’s commitment to safeguarding sport, I would encourage other clubs and organisations to develop programmes for young people that protect sports future for a new generation.”
As part project’s objective to support CEQUIN’s work and in line with save the dream’s to promote and protect the core values of sport in young people, two young girls who participated in the Delhi Dreams tournament will come to England to train with the Aston Villa girls development team, as well as being given the opportunity to watch the Villa Ladies first team in action.