Osmani Trust’s Football in the Community (FITC) project held the 6th Annual Tower Hamlets Community Cup (THCC) at Mile End Leisure Centre; the yearly event has over time gone from strength to strength and a much anticipated date in the local footballing calendar. This year’s THCC was sponsored by Canary Wharf PLC who has over the years been a great supporter of this tournament.
Zakir Khan from Canary Wharf PLC stated, “Osmani Trust have once again delivered a major community football tournament for local young people, we at Canary Wharf are always happy to support good initiatives that reach out and benefit local people.”
The Community Cup this year attracted more than 60 teams from right across London including teams from Tower Hamlets, Newham, Islington, Hackney, Camden and Ealing. In total more than 500 young people engaged positively in a friendly but very competitive tournament. The morning saw all teams play their group games with teams qualifying for the knock out stages played in the afternoon. The quarter and semi-finals were tightly battled; one game even went to sudden death penalties and was eventually won 12-11.
The finals for of all age groups were a treat for the hundreds of spectators watching in the scorching heat. The Under 11 age group finals saw Vallance FC take on local school team Al-Mizan, the early part of the game was tight but once Vallance FC took the lead the gates opened and they won convincingly 5-0. Vallance FC were in good form having teams in the Under 13 and Under 14 finals too aiming for a historical hat-trick, which would be a first in the THCC cup. In the Under 13 final, E3 All Stars proved too strong for Vallance FC winning 8-1, while in the Under 14 finals Vallance FC beat STF 2-0. Last but not least the under 16 finals was between STF and Azhar Academy, again a hugely entertaining match with STF just managing to clinch the match 1-0.
Zubair Martin, Manager of STF from Camden said, “We really enjoyed the tournament and that’s not just because we did well! We enjoy it every year. The day was well organised, safe and a lot of fun. That’s down to Osmani Trust and the Football in the Community project and their dedicated staff and volunteers.”
Abdal Ahmed, Football Development Manager at Osmani Trust said, “During such difficult times it is always great to see so many young people within one venue at one time and more importantly engaging positively. The FITC project will continue to provide such platforms for local young people to excel as we have seen through the Community Cup”.
The overall winners and runners up of the Tower Hamlets Community Cup 2011 were as follows:
Winners
Under 11: Vallance FC
Under 13: E3 All Stars
Under 14: Vallance FC
Under 16: STF
Runners-Up
Under 11: Al-Mizan
Under 13: Vallance FC
Under 14: STF
Under 16: Azhar Academy
If you would like more information about the forthcoming Canary Wharf Cup or any other provisions offered by the FITC or services offered by Osmani Trust please contact Abdal Ahmed on 020 7247 8080 via abdal.ahmed@osmanitrust.org