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LaLiga launches special programmes for football fans in India on Facebook
Mumbai: LaLiga launched exclusive programmes ‘LaLiga StayAtHome’, ‘LaLiga Nations’ and ‘LaLiga Clubs’ for football fans in the Indian subcontinent on LaLiga’s Facebook page. Through these programmes, LaLiga aims to highlight the best of the league beyond football to help strengthen the fan base and connect with newer audiences despite the ongoing postponement of the competition.
‘LaLiga StayAtHome’ will feature once every week for 26 minutes on LaLiga’s official Facebook page. The first episode will feature sports personalities such as Quique Setien (Barça coach), Carlos Bacca (Villarreal striker), Sergi Gomez (Sevilla defender), Alex Moreno (Real Betis left-back), Eduardo Zubiri (Osasuna nutritionist), engage and inspire fans about how they are living through the lockdown and what precautions are they taking and ensuring to maintain their fitness routines and diet.
‘LaLiga Nations’ will be aired over the course of 10 weeks with one episode each week of 26 minutes. This initiative will showcase the importance and impact of present and past football players of different nationalities have had on LaLiga and Spanish football as a whole.
The first episode will have Di Stefano, Maradona, Messi from Argentina, the country that has contributed most players to LaLiga, followed by players from the United Kingdom, Brazil and other countries in the following episodes.
‘LaLiga Clubs’ segment will showcase the history of 20 Spanish clubs within their cities, and the connection between the cities, the teams and their people. It will outline the significance of each club, their fans sense of belonging, their importance in Spanish football and their uniqueness. This programme will be aired fortnightly and will have six episodes of 26-minute each.
LaLiga India managing director Jose Antonio Cachaza, said: “It is our constant effort to bring engaging and exciting content closer to fans, and never has it been so important for us to engage with our fans in newer ways. In this difficult situation, football fans will be able to remain close to their idols and learn more about their favourite players, their clubs, their cities, and their history.”
“Through these programming initiatives, we aim to showcase that LaLiga is much more than the fixtures and highlights the story of the land, club, and players which make LaLiga the best League in the world. We hope that these initiatives will further expand our fan base to a much larger and diverse audience and help us spread the joy of football,” Cachaza adds.
In February 2020, LaLiga along with Facebook has profiled all 20 LaLiga Santander clubs through the “Behind the Goals” series. The weekly series has taken fans through the history of the club, players, titles and trophies, the stadium and more about the lifestyle and culture in the region.
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.
