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Zee Sports ropes in John Helm & Russell Osman as commentators
MUMBAI: Zee Sports has signed one of England’s top football voices John Helm and former England international football player Russell Osman as commentator and co-commentator respectively for the 27th edition of the Federation Cup, to be played at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Margao in Goa starting 19 October.
Helm, one of Europe’s top football commentators for the last 25 years, has covered several World Cups and European Championships. In a career spanning two decades, he has commentated on about 2000 football matches. In his long career he has worked with ITV, the top commercial channel in the UK and Channel Five, the newest mass distribution channel in the United Kingdom, states an official release.
Osman is an ex-England international footballer, capped on eleven occasions. He played over 800 top-level games for Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Southampton and Bristol City. At Ipswich he was a member of the team that won the UEFA Cup in 1981 and came runners up, in what is now called the Premier league, in 1980/81 and 1981/82. In the past he has managed Bristol City and Cardiff City. In the past he has worked as media commentator with Sky Sports, Eurosport, ITV, Channel 5 and BBC5.
Zee Sports COO Gary Lovejoy said, “We are delighted to welcome John and Russell to the Zee Sports commentary panel for Federation Cup. They bring with them vast experience of covering and playing in the best of international football from around the world. They will add a lot of value in providing a perspective to the world-class coverage of Federation Cup.” He further added, “Our coverage will also involve more cameras, more replays, a new graphic look and interactive.”
Zee Sports is undertaking a multi media marketing and promotional campaign across the country to popularise the football among the masses. As part of the campaign several below the line activities including road shows, pub screening, football kiosks etc are being undertaken in several cities to popularise the football.
To promote the Federation Cup a special section on Indian football has been created on Zee Sports website www.zeesports.co.in. This section provides soccer fans with the latest team news, match scores, statistics and player profiles, as well as exclusive player interviews and photo galleries. There will be interactive sections, which will include chat rooms, video clips of matches, online games, wallpapers and ring tones, the release adds.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
