THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
On a beautiful hot record-breaking temperature weekend the Asian football teams and supporters from around the United Kingdom converged to the West Midlands for the Khalsa Football Federation KFF tournament supported by Walsall Asian Sports Association WASA and local Gurdwaras on 23-24 May 2026 at the Aston University Playing Fields, Birmingham Road, Walsall, West Midlands.
The annual Shaheedi tournament included KFF Senior football, KFF Junior and Youth football in which nearly 70 teams participated and was enjoyed by thousands of football lovers.
In the Premier Division semi-finals GSA played against FC Khalsa Leicester and Singh Sabha Slough Hounslow played Guru Ravidas with GSA and Singh Sabha Slough Hounslow progressing to the final. Premier Division was won by Singh Sabha Slough Hounslow. Division 1 was won by Queens Park Bedford who beat GSA in the final. F.C. Khalsa Leicester won the Over 35’s Division beating Punjab United Wolverhampton in the final. F.C. Khalsa Leicester also won the Over 45’s Division by beating Wonder vaults in the final.
On behalf of F.C. Khalsa Leicester Santokh Singh commented “Walsall has always been my favourite KFF tournament-thank you to all the sewadars and organisers who make this possible. F.C. Khalsa winning both Veterans sections and Rana and Raul’s Under 15’s success has kept everyone at our club smiling all weekend…that’s what it’s all about. The club would like to dedicate the three winners’ cups to our dear beloved football coach Sardar Jagir Singh Bassi who will forever remain in our hearts.”
In the Junior football section teams competed in the Under 8’s , Under 9’’s, Under 11’s , Under 13’s and Under 15’s. The Under 15’s Champions at KFF Walsall were FC Khalsa Leicester whose team manager Raul Singh Bassi said “ I am absolutely delighted winning the tournament and dedicate the win to my late grandfather Jagir Singh Bassi”.
One of the special guests at the tournament was Baljit Singh Brar, Senior Journalist and Editor of Daily Punjab Times, Jalandhar, published in Punjabi and English in India and Canada had in depth discussions with Gurdaver Singh , President of Khalsa Football Federation KFF in how to improve the tournaments in future.
Rashpal Singh on behalf of Khalsa Football Federation KFF said “As always, Walsall tournament is excellently organised by WASA and always well attended.”
Report: Tarlochan Singh Virk
