NMC & Sports

NMC has always remained an ardent supporter of sporting activities in this region, extending patronage to both for individual and team games, which has paid rich dividends in raising the standards of sportsmen in the country.

Testimonials to NMC's commitment in this sphere come with the staging of two Gulf-level events - the Koosamma Shetty Throw Ball Tournament and the Ramadan Floodlit Volleyball Tournament, which are popular fixtures in the annual calendar of events.

The most outstanding contribution of NMC has been the promotion of cricket, which is gaining rapid popularity among the citizens, both nationals and expatriates. NMC sponsors a premier 'A' Division cricket tournament under the aegis of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council, fielding two teams in the fray - the NMC team and the UAE Exchange team.

The genesis of the NMC cricket team dates back 15 years, drawing inspiration from the passion for the sport held by Dr. B. R. Shetty, Founder Partner, Managing Director and CEO of NMC.

The NMC team has been in the forefront to hog the limelight time and again. It bagged the NMC Trophy as many as five times and finished runner-up thrice. The team won the Bukhatir League in Sharjah four times and gained the second spot once. Further, it annexed the Sony Cup in Dubai on three occasions. Considering that only one 'A' division tournament is held every year in the Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah circuit, the record of the NMC team speaks volumes for its accomplishments.

The team also won the Ramadan Floodlit tournaments held in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, once each. Four members of the UAE national cricket team, which qualified for the first-ever time to play in the 1996 World Cup, hail from the stables of NMC.

Over the years, the team has been fortified with the induction of Test and Ranji Trophy players from India and First Class cricketers from Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Dr. Shetty has launched a sustained campaign to scout for talent, groom budding talent and infuse new blood, to elevate the team to higher levels of excellence.

The brimming pool of talent and the encouraging results of the exercise have prompted him to spawn yet another team in the 'B' Division under the banner of the UAE Exchange Centre.

Dr. B. R. Shetty's most outstanding contribution however, has been the promotion of international cricket and the world class cricket stadium in Abu Dhabi.