Thread starter
#1
Interesting...
http://www.news.com.au/sundaymail/story/0,...5003406,00.html
Dedicated: An Imam and players pray for a safe game
http://www.news.com.au/sundaymail/story/0,...5003406,00.html
Dedicated: An Imam and players pray for a safe game
League of their ownBy Hannah Davies
December 03, 2006 12:00am
FROM the mosque to the football field – Queensland Muslims have launched Australia's first Islamic rugby league competition.
The youngsters swapped prayer robes for jerseys recently for the opening game in Brisbane.
But religion was still a big player in the event, with a Muslim cleric holding prayer sessions on the field before and after the match.
The all-Muslim league is the brainchild of Brisbane sales manager Oscar Akbar, 25, who has invited teams from across the country to take part.
"I noticed a lot of guys at the mosques were talking about the NRL games," he said.
"Islamic youths want to play sport, but they feel unable to go to a sports club because they are afraid of ridicule.
"By creating an all-Muslim league we can enable youngsters to take part without feeling inferior.
"It's a way for all the youths to get together and burn off their excess energy on the field, rather than getting into mischief.
"It also strengthens our community through the sport, by structuring ourselves from within."
Five teams from across Brisbane compete in the league, but Mr Akbar, who plays for the Deen Machine side, said Muslims in Sydney wanted to get involved.
"Ultimately, I want this to become a national thing so that we can then look at having an Islamic State of Origin match," Mr Akbar said.
Medical student Umjid Raheen, 27, from Springwood, in Brisbane's south, plays for the Goss Muhammed side.
"Hopefully, this league will go through the roof," he said.
"We've had a lot of public enthusiasm already, because everyone is pleased to see youngsters organising something rather than the elders telling us what to do.
"We have had religious approval to do this, and made sure an Imam from a local mosque said prayers to keep everyone safe during the game. It's something that Allah would be proud of."
More than 600 people cheered the teams on when they played their first match at Brisbane's Sunnybank Rugby Union Club.
Club chairman Gaven Head was delighted with their performance.
"The Muslim boys are really passionate about this and are training really hard. It's great to see them play a sport so quintessentially Australian and they have my full support in the venture."
The teams' next games are on December 16.
December 03, 2006 12:00am
FROM the mosque to the football field – Queensland Muslims have launched Australia's first Islamic rugby league competition.
The youngsters swapped prayer robes for jerseys recently for the opening game in Brisbane.
But religion was still a big player in the event, with a Muslim cleric holding prayer sessions on the field before and after the match.
The all-Muslim league is the brainchild of Brisbane sales manager Oscar Akbar, 25, who has invited teams from across the country to take part.
"I noticed a lot of guys at the mosques were talking about the NRL games," he said.
"Islamic youths want to play sport, but they feel unable to go to a sports club because they are afraid of ridicule.
"By creating an all-Muslim league we can enable youngsters to take part without feeling inferior.
"It's a way for all the youths to get together and burn off their excess energy on the field, rather than getting into mischief.
"It also strengthens our community through the sport, by structuring ourselves from within."
Five teams from across Brisbane compete in the league, but Mr Akbar, who plays for the Deen Machine side, said Muslims in Sydney wanted to get involved.
"Ultimately, I want this to become a national thing so that we can then look at having an Islamic State of Origin match," Mr Akbar said.
Medical student Umjid Raheen, 27, from Springwood, in Brisbane's south, plays for the Goss Muhammed side.
"Hopefully, this league will go through the roof," he said.
"We've had a lot of public enthusiasm already, because everyone is pleased to see youngsters organising something rather than the elders telling us what to do.
"We have had religious approval to do this, and made sure an Imam from a local mosque said prayers to keep everyone safe during the game. It's something that Allah would be proud of."
More than 600 people cheered the teams on when they played their first match at Brisbane's Sunnybank Rugby Union Club.
Club chairman Gaven Head was delighted with their performance.
"The Muslim boys are really passionate about this and are training really hard. It's great to see them play a sport so quintessentially Australian and they have my full support in the venture."
The teams' next games are on December 16.
