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Belgian Harm van Veldhoven becomes manager for DEN-owned Delhi Dynamos football club
NEW DELHI: Delhi Dynamos FC, the national capital’s football team for the Hero MotoCorp Indian Super League, have announced Harm van Veldhoven as its manager.
Harm started his career as a striker on the football field and his tryst with coaching started in 1999 with FC Lommel, a renowned second division club in Belgium. He took over as manager in 2000, achieving promotion in 2002 by winning the Belgium Second Division Championship. During his tenure, Harm also managed to guide the club to the finals of the Belgian Cup. In 2003, Harm joined FC Brussels, another promising Belgian club, and won promotion for the club as Champion of the Belgian Second Division in his very first year as their manager.
In 2004, Harm joined Belgian Pro League club Cercle Brugge and served as manager till 2007. Harm then moved to Germinal Beerschot and had another successful couple of seasons in the Pro League.
He joined the Dutch Eredivisie (top division) in 2008, becoming manager of Roda JC. After helping his club avoid relegation in the 2008-09 season, Harm led Roda to a series of impressive league finishes, including a high of sixth place in 2010-11. After completing his contract term in 2012, he joined the Belgian Pro League Club, KV Mechelen as manager, concluding that engagement in 2013.
Harm’s coaching style is a great fit for the Delhi Dynamos’ philosophy of “Thok Denge”. Harm prefers the 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 formations, enabling his team to produce an exciting brand of fluid, attacking football.
During the launch of the team, the Dynamos described their mission as building football into a leading sport across Delhi and Northern India. With an alliance with Dutch powerhouse Feyenoord Rotterdam and coupled with Harm’s expert guidance, the Dynamos are well on their way to give Delhi a well-prepared, world-class football team that will do the city proud.
Sameer Manchanda, a passionate football fan and chairman and managing director of DEN Networks said: “We are very happy to welcome Harm van Veldhoven to the Delhi Dynamos FC. A coach of Harm’s calibre and experience will enable our mission of creating a cohesive team of world-class players; and more importantly, will give each ‘Delhi Dynamo’ an invaluable opportunity to learn new skills and grow under his able leadership. We are very excited with the way this team is shaping up and we hope to deliver the expectations of millions of Delhiites on the football field.”
Veldhoven said: “I am thrilled and humbled at the same time with this immense responsibility to give India’s capital a formidable football team! Coaching Delhi Dynamos FC is a great opportunity, as I get to work with skilled Indian & international players. I look forward to building an amazing team for Delhi.”
DEN aims to create a robust football ecosystem in Delhi and Northern Indian. Delhi Dynamos has an alliance with Feyenoord Rotterdam – a leading football club and academy from the Netherlands. According to the CIES Football Observatory,Feyenoord was the World No. 1 in Player Development for this FIFA World Cup 2014.
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.
