'Shining example' of community on show at TVMC football tournament in Slough

A celebration of sport and community took place over the weekend, as the Thames Valley Masaajid Council (TVMC) held its annual football tournament.

Held at Arbour Park, home of Slough Town, the event saw over 300 children competing in 28 teams from Mosques across the Thames Valley including Maidenhead, Slough and Windsor.

TVMC chairman Dr Arshad Jarral said the event had been a ‘shining example of what the community can achieve’ - as well as a chance for youngsters to show off their footballing skills.

TVMC represents more than 60,000 Muslims from 10 Mosques in Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire.

Describing Sunday’s [August 24] event, Dr Jarral said: “We are encouraging young people of all ages to participate in a very friendly environment for people all around.

“It brings young people together, which is an opportunity we don’t often get.

“There is a lot of support from parents, local communities, schools and even youth clubs.

“But it’s not just one community, there is a lot of communities, we have people from different cultures, different races and different backgrounds.

“So, everybody supporting the Inter-Masaajid football tournament means everybody is enjoying it.”

The tournament, now in its second year, was split into multiple age categories, with children, teens, and adults all participating.

Event organisers helped put on more than 20 stalls including from Thames Valley Police, Slough Borough Council, as well as food stalls and children’s activities.

Organisers thanked the hard work of volunteers from Slough Youth Action who helped deliver the event.

Slough Youth Action was set up in December 2022 by parents who wanted to provide free opportunities for young people following the death of a friend who was stabbed in Slough.

Dr Jarral said: “It was a long day but a very peaceful, well organised event and a shining example of what the community can achieve when working together.”  

Beyond a chance for some friendly football competition, the event also offered an opportunity for young people.

“This tournament was more than a sporting event,” Dr Jarrall said. “It was a celebration of multiethnic and multi-cultural teams from across the Thames Valley region, showing discipline, unity and respect for everyone.”

The event was also a chance to show youngsters a way to ‘get away from crime, drugs, gang culture and knife crimes taking place in the area and to be involved with healthier activities like football’, he added.