Passion Islam I November 2009 SPORT I 19
Celtic Muslim wonderkid in
line for full Scotland debut
Scotland U17 coach Ross Mathie may against Cyprus with a 40-yard assist to
be about to hand Somali-born Celtic Hoops team mate Callum McGregor.
starlet Islam Feruz his full international Fellow Hoops youngster McGregor
debut after the 14-year-old made also heaped praise on Scotland’s new
a dazzling start to his international star.
career after coming on as a half-time ‘’I play with Islam every week. He
sub during a 2-1 European defeat by is really good and has great ability,”
Cyprus. he said.
Celtic’s young Bhoy made history “It was terrific ball from Islam for
against Cyprus, becoming the first our goal and he has been made very
player to pull on a dark blue jersey welcome by all the boys.
under Fifa’s new school ruling that “You could see that when I scored
allows a British passport holder who because half the guys ran to me and
has been educated for at least five half to him to celebrate his part in
of Hoops legend Tommy Burns, who
years in one of the home nations to setting up the strike.’’
died last year. Burns had taken the
play for that country. Hoops fans were given a glimpse
young refugee under wing and was
The Hillhead High pupil set up the of the teenager in May when he
active in the Feruz family’s fight for
Scots only goal on in the 2-1 defeat featured in a tribute match in honour
asylum.
Muslim female
Muslim women
win sports grant
referee takes charge
The Muslim Women`s Sports
Foundation (MWSF) in Britain has
won a grant to build on its pioneering
only one who has started officiating
success in developing local futsal and
at matches. The other is Sanam
basketball clubs for ethnic minority
Rehman and she will be making her
women.
MWSF chair Rimla Akhtar said that
debut on the pitch soon.
she believed the award of £235,000
Khadija said, “It has been really
from the Football Foundation, the
enjoyable so far and the parents
UK’s largest sports charity is the
first of its kind and will help future
of the young players I referee have
generations of ethnic minority women
been really supportive.”
to succeed in sport.
Khadija, who attended Beardwood
She suggested that the grant to
be used to develop facilities is only
High School and is now at St Mary’s
the beginning of a much larger effort
College is hoping to referee in to develop healthy and confident
tournaments in the future.
women and girls in the UK.
MWSF was founded in 2001 by
“At the moment I’m quite happy
Muslim News editor Ahmed Versi with
doing smaller sided games but I the overarching aim to enable Muslim
am hoping I can move on to bigger
women to participate in a variety of
sports without compromising their
tournaments.
Islamic values.
Ismael Esat, Referees Co- The grant will allow the MWSF
to embark on the ‘Born to Succeed’
We’ve seen our fair share of Asian
ordinator said, “I am just happy an
project - a three year plan aiming
referees take centre stage recently
Asian female has taken an interest in
to increase the number of ethnic
- now meet the first Asian female
this field and I would like to see more minority women in sport, which is
referee!
taking up refereeing.
was launched in London.
With the funding, it is hoping to
Khadija Gire, aged 16 has started
“Some people say we have to
provide facilities and support that
refereeing junior games in the region
wear shorts. They can wear leggings take into consideration religious and
this month. She told us, “I just thought
if they want.
cultural sensitivities of women from
different backgrounds.
I would try something different so
“It is certainly the first time we
MWSF also seeks to promote
decided to give referring a go. I
have come across an Asian female cohesion and understanding between
already knew some of the rules but referee.”
non-Muslim and Muslim communities
the course really helped me.” People will be surprised to learn
by offering alternative social activities
in mainstream society and developing
Khadija is one of two qualified there are 55 Asian referees in the role models for future generations of
Asian female referees but is the region now. - Asian Image
black and minority ethnic women.
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