Over 500 mosque leaders and young people from across Britain gathered at the King Power Stadium in Leicester earlier this month to hear from young people and experts on how mosques can better engage with youth through football, West Ham United FC reported Monday, October 28.
“I am privileged and proud to be able to present at the Muslim Council of Britain,” said West Ham Foundation employability and coach education manager Rashid Abba.
“The Foundation does incredible work across the community, including facilitating multi-faith tournaments, offering qualifications to local coaches, and then by continuing to support them in setting up their own provisions,” said Abba, who led a workshop looking into setting up mosque-based football clubs.
“It is an honor to be able to showcase our values and be a positive influence for others so that we can continue to unite our community and inspire better futures.”
Abba was speaking at the Muslim Council of Britain’s #OurYouthOurFuture event held on October 12.
Discussions and interactive workshops focused on working out “how mosques can better engage with an increasingly disenfranchised youth through football and other initiatives”.
West Ham United Foundation’s Rashid Abba with Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury
Helping Youth
By hosting sports provision at their mosques, young Muslims can make new friends with similar individuals and take part in important physical activity.
With many young Muslims among those who struggle to integrate with other community groups and participate in sport outside of their schools or after-school Madressa religious instruction sessions, #OurYouthOurFuture helps them access sport and social activities.
The proportion of Premier League players from racially diverse backgrounds is constantly increasing. For example, West Ham United among the many clubs to possess cosmopolitan squads drawn from across the world.
Back in 1992, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nayim was the league’s only practicing Muslim.
In 2018, the figure increased to more than 40 Muslim players, many of them stars such as Mohamed Salah, Paul Pogba, and N’Golo Kante.