THE CHAMPIONS OF THE CSS GROUP T20 CHALLENGE
Work often takes precedence over everything in our lives. However, paying too much importance to our professional life could take a toll on us. Including fun activities at the workplace is the key to bringing in positive effects like reduced stress, lower risk of burnout and a greater sense of wellbeing. At CSS, we understand the significance of work-life balance in the lives of our employees. CSS cares deeply about the physical, emotional and mental well being of our employees. Keeping this in mind, we organized a T20 Challenge for our internal teams.
The T20 Challenge
The Champions of CSS Group T20 Challenge was held on the 18th and 19th of March at the spectacular JMR sporting club, in Sharjah. The T20 matches commenced at 14:00 hrs. on both the days. The theme of the CSS Group T20 was “Innings to network”. These matches were planned so that our teams could interact with each other in a fun manner and develop a team spirit. All our team members were warmly welcomed for the event with their families. Transportations arrangements were also taken care of, so that the teams could enjoy the day to the fullest. Before the teams started playing the matches, they were encouraged to join the event with a “Team Spirit”.
The T20 Teams
Four teams were formed to compete against each other in the T20 challenge. Team one was CSS HQ (Captained by Ranjith H), team two was CSS eLogix (Captained by Jassim), team three was ISS Relocations (Captained by Sooraj) and team four was CSS Kingston (Captained by Niji). Each of the teams was provided with a dedicated coach and a team manager to gear up the teams for the T20 challenge matches.
The Winning Team: CSS HQ
The teams put up a competitive yet friendly fight against each other. A strong team spirit was visible in all the players who thoroughly enjoyed the cricket matches. The winning team of the T20 challenge was CSS HQ. CSS eLogix procured the second prize, while ISS Relocations and CSS Kingston took the third and fourth spot in the T20 tournament.
The Committee Behind The T20 Event
A committee was formed to make the T20 Challenge a success. The members of this committee were T.S Kaladharan, Krishna Kaladharan, Don Raveendran, Susanth Shekhar, Unnikrishnan K, Alan Ramesh, Shabeja Rose and Radhakrishnan Machingal. Each of these members put in their time and effort to make this event a huge hit. This team carefully planned each and every detail. Right from executing the event, forming the teams, planning the entertainment stalls and charting out the transportation, all the details were seamlessly taken into account to make sure that all the employees and their families enjoyed the T20 Challenge to the fullest. Several fun stalls were put up at the sporting club.
Kids Entertainment Corner
While the T20 matches were going on, fun and frolic was planned for everyone, especially the kids. There was a dedicated Kids Entertainment Corner, which catered to the playful needs of the little ones and ensured that they were never faced with boredom. All the kids enjoyed the bouncing castle and slide. There were also pony rides for the kids to explore.
Cotton Candy and Popcorn Counter
Everyone loves sweets, especially melt-in-the mouth cotton candy and crunchy caramel and salted popcorn. This is why we included this cotton candy and popcorn stall. The cotton candy was an instant hit with a queue of people immediately lining up to get their sweet candy. The popcorn machine kept on popping with both salted and sweet variants, which everyone liked. Kids and adults enjoyed munching on popcorn and cotton candy as the T20 matches were played.
Balloon Twisting
Another star entertainment stall for the kids was Balloon Twisting. The skilled balloon-twisting artists at the stall impressed our little ones with balloons turned into the shape of dogs, butterflies, flowers, windmills and even horses. It was indeed a fun sight to watch the kids at the event carrying balloons of different shapes and sizes with a smile on their faces.
Art and Craft Station
Since kids of all age groups love art and craft, a special art and craft station was set up. This stall had all the required materials for creating beautiful crafts and helped the little ones create some amazing art with paper, glitter and paint. The kids were entertained for hours at the art station and proudly displayed their creations to their parents.
Face Painting
A stall for Face Painting was put up, where everyone was free to go and get their face painted with their favorite design. This stall was an instant hit with both kids and adults. Almost everyone wanted to get his or her face painted. From superhero designs to butterflies, flowers and animals, there was so much laughter and joy at the Face Painting stall.
Music Medley and Bollywood Dance
Music is indeed the heart and soul of any event. Keeping this in mind, CSS planned for a Musical Medley along with Bollywood Dance songs. There was a dedicated DJ to mix up the tracks and add catchy beats. Everyone at the event, both young and old found himself or herself tapping their feet on the dance floor to the joyful music played at the station.
Live Food
No event is complete without food. There was an enticing live food stall that displayed how the dishes were prepared. Whether it was starters, main course dishes or desserts, every dish was cooked to perfection with mouthwatering taste. There was a wide range of dishes to choose from.
Chayakada
Another outstanding stall at the event was the “Chayakada” which served authentic lip-smacking tea to one and all. It was a pure delight for everyone at the event to drink this traditionally prepared tea and watch the matches.
Team Spirit and Networking
The two-day T20 challenge event ended with fond memories and a fostering of a team spirit among our employees who thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to network with each other and understand the importance of supporting each other.
CSS Group’s two senior staff members played this year’s Veteran’s Premier League held in Wayand, Kerala. Fida Asghar & Hareesh Haridas, two well-known names in the Cricketing circuits of Kerala & the UAE played for two different teams. While Fida Asghar played for the Absolute Sobers, Hareesh played with Kochi Royals. Interestingly both the team entered the finals after the league matches.
CSS Kingston Logistics FZC, sponsored Alleppey Amigos team participated in the recently concluded Kerala Cricket League (KCL). Destructive West Indies batsman and the ambassador of Kerala Cricket League 2015, Chris Gayle has officially opened the third edition of the tournament here. Gayle kick-started the competition in his trade-mark style after getting into his batting gear and lofting the ball high much to the delight of the nearly 2,000-strong spectators gathered at the Sevens Stadium. Sixteen teams featuring UAE cricketing talent took part in the league in four groups, which was managed by Seashell Events UAE and was organised under the patronage of Dubai Sports Council and Dubai Cricket Council. Renowned Malayalam film actress Nyla Usha was the Brand Ambassador of CSS Kinston Alleppey Amigos team
CSS Group VP Business development Ken Dinnadge continues to impress in his friendly customer golf outings by achievement yet another mile stone in his golfing by scoring yet another hole in one on Dubai’s championship course, the Emirates golf club.
The Emirates Golf Club, host of the European Tour sanctioned Omega Dubai Desert Classic and Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, was the first all grass championship golf course in the Middle East when it opened in 1988. Taking pride in its 36 holes of world-class golf, the club sports two of the city’s finest must-play courses, the Majlis and the Faldo Course, which is also the only 18 hole course in the region to offer night golf. Both courses combine the natural rolling desert terrain for a serious golfing test, while the signature clubhouse remains the most eye-catching in the region. The Majlis Course has been presented with numerous accolades over its 25 year history, including its 2012 ranking by Golf World magazine as one of the ‘Top 100 Golf Courses in the World’ and being awarded ‘Best Course Middle East’ in the Asian Golf Monthly Awards. Emirates Golf Club is also the only golf club in the MENA region to receive GEO Certification.
Arab unity emerged as the champions of the CSS Homeward Bound inter school cricket tournament defeating Gems modern academy for 36 runs at the fair grounds of the Dubai men’s college. The tournament staged after 6 years due to shortage of ground availability, was a great success with 10 top schools from the UAE competing the event and unearthed many a talents from the region for cricket. CSS Homeward bound were the Main sponsors for the event which lasted for almost 3 months due to exams and vacations for the participating schools in between.
CSS Group KPL Dubai Season 3 kicked off to a glittering & glamorous start on the 17th October at the ICC Grounds, Sports city Dubai. The inaugural function which was attended by celebrities and dignitaries from DCC went off with a colorful performance from DJ Kips & Music Band Masala Coffee. The toss went up at 7:30 in the evening for which hundreds of fans from both Palakkad Harvestors and Cochin Diwans, who played the first match witnessed. KPL Directors, T S Kaladharan, CTK Nasir, Paul T Joseph & Thomas Philip were present on the ground. KPL convener Radhakrishnan (Radhu) narrated the events from the ground. KPL Director & ambassador Bharat Suresh Gopi, Narain & Bhama cheered the onlookers. Josh FM 97.8 RJ Parikshith did live programme from the venue. Friends from the media, and other team members and owners were present for the function.
A total of 12 Glorious Teams named with 12 Districts from Kerala is playing the tournament for the coveted KPL trophy. Each team consists of a minimum of 2 players preferable from the respective districts of Kerala in a playing XI and the remaining from local talent with one player under the age of 22 and maximum of 2 overseas players.
KPL Dubai is the biggest Asian sporting event of the region and it gives you the opportunity to be known to and reach, one of the largest communities in the region. After the super hit Indian Premier League and in consideration of the 4.5 million Asian populations in the UAE – the highest number among all expats, Kerala Premier League Dubai was formed under the guidance and support from the Dubai Cricket Council, and the generous patronage from the sponsors and the cricket loving community in Dubai. KPL successfully completed 2 seasons of cricketing festival in Dubai and has entered the third season with a bang. The final will be played on the 21st November 2014.
Fida Asghar (Manager)
The inter school cricket tournament in Dubai was sponsored by CSS Homeward Bound from the title position. Ten schools, divided in two groups of five each, were contesting for the top prize.
The 37th edition of the India Club UAE Open Badminton tournament got off to a colourful start with a record 595 participants in the men’s, ladies’, boys’, girls’ and veterans’ categories.
Nobody expected such a stunning performance, when KPL team owners XI invited the team formed by the cast and crew of the famous Malayalam movie hit 1983 branded by the Concord ventures Group. Both team played professionally at the Sevens ground on the Al Ain road in Dubai. Concord ventures group team 1983 put up a formidable score of 152 as per the T20 standards, when they batted first. Some brilliant shots from actors like Kunchacko Boban and Madan Mohan helped 1983 team to put up a challenging score in front of the experienced KPL team owners XI.
Prior to the teaser match in Dubai, the KPL Management committee and the 1983 movie crew jointly conducted a press conference both in Cochin & Dubai.
The first of its kind T20 Cricket in UAE – Asian Cricketing with Middle Eastern seasoning! A total of 14 Glorious Teams named with 14 Districts from Kerala. Each team consists of a minimum of 3 players preferable from the respective districts of Kerala in a playing XI and the remaining from local talent with one player under the age of 22 and maximum of 2 overseas players. KPL Dubai is the biggest ASIAN sporting event providing you with the opportunity to be known to and reach, one of the largest communities in the region.
Ken Dinnadge, VP Business Development, CSS, won the Porsche owners Golf Cup Dubai recently held at the Emirates Golf Club Course. The tournament saw Dinnadge securing a sought-after spot in one of the five individual categories qualifying for the amateur tournament in the Mediterranean.
Kerala Overseas Cricketers (KOC) recent Kerala trip concluded in grand manner by winning all 3 matches held at Cochin. The cricket tournament was named, FRIENDSHIP CUP and as the name affirms, it was truly a friendship tournament in which majority of the yesteryears players participated whole heartedly. Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) rightly acknowledged the tournament by sending their officials to witness the great felicitation program held on the 11th of January 2014 at NM Royal County, Tripunithura, Cochin.
That was the day when the Hiranandani Thane half marathon was held. The 2014 HTHM which was held under the aegis of Athletics Federation of India, had two categories – Half Marathon – 21.097 km and the Green Run – 7 km.
Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Social Development, Chairman of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) Kobe Bryant Health and Fitness Weekend in support of diabetes awareness was held at the American University in Dubai (AUD) on September 27th, 2013.
“SPACE-CSS Alleppey Ripples with the power and pride
of Devas Chundan for KPL Dubai Season 2”
All matches proved to be exhilarating whereby the batting and fielding of SPACE-CSS Alleppey Ripples showcased by the entire team were unstoppable.
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club hosted the “BTL Race to Dubai”, in conjunction with Bengal Tiger Line; this event was the culmination of the 2012 BTL Golf Global Tour.
Following the huge success of its first season, KPL Dubai has announced the start of KPL Dubai Season 2.