ASIAN SPORTS FANS ENJOY WALSALL TOURNAMENT 2024
Singh Brothers, Derby wins Premier and Division 1
-Tarlochan Singh Virk
(THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT)- Thousands of Asian sport fans converged to Aston University Playing Fields, Birmingham Road in the West Midlands for the Walsall Football and Hockey Tournament organised by Khalsa Football Federation KFF and Walsall Asian Sports Association WASA which was held on 25th and 26th May that included nearly 100 teams from all over the country.
Teams from London, Nottingham, Milton Keynes, Slough, Coventry, Leicester, Bedford, Derby and other cities took part in the annual tournament that included 29 Senior teams, 53 Junior Teams for the football section and there were five Senior hockey teams. The tournament also included free Fun Fair and other activities.
The Senior football and hockey matches took place on Saturday. In the Premier Division the finalists were Singh Brothers Derby and GSA who started their campaign by overcoming FC Khalsa Leicester. There were goals galore for the entertainment of the supporters with Singh Brothers Derby winning 4 -3. The Division1 final was between the two East Midlands clubs GNG Leicester and Singh Brothers Derby who won it with the final score 3-2. The Over 35s winners were Shere Punjab Birmingham with West London runners up. The Over 45s final between Punjab United Derby and Singh Sabha Slough ended goalless. The East Midland club won on penalties.
RESULTS ADULT SECTION
Premier League Final
Singh Brothers Derby 4
GSA 3
Division 1 Final
Singh Brother Derby 3
GNG Leicester 2
Over 35s Final
Shere Punjab Birmingham 5
West London 2
Over 45s Final
Punjab United Derby 0
Singh Sabha Slough 0
Punjab United Derby won 3-2 on penalties.
Youth Section
A total of 53 Youth teams took part with 7 teams in Under 8s, 10 teams in Under 9s, 17 teams in the Under 11s, 10 teams in Under 13s and 9 teams in the Under 15s division. The Under 8s winners were GNG Leicester Eagles, Under 11s winners were Singh Sabha Slough, Under 13s winners were GNG Leicester Hawks and Milton Keynes All Stars won the Under 15s.
FC Khalsa Leicester started a new Football Academy and were featured on PTC News International when they held their annual celebration at Guru Amar Das Gurdwara in December 2023. As a direct result of benefits of the academy FC Khalsa Leicester won the Under 9s section by winning all their games in the group stages against teams from across the UK scoring 10 goals, conceding none and were unbeaten throughout the tournament.
FC Khalsa’s Coaches Kam Sangha and Harvy Mann commented “The final game was very tough game with FC Khalsa showing great team spirit to come back from a goal down. We won the final on penalties with great saves from our goalkeeper Freddie. The winning penalty was taken by Dylan Sangha. The Player of the Tournament award in the Under 9s section was won by Arvan Man of FC Khalsa Leicester.”
One of the senior representatives of FC Khalsa Leicester Santokh Singh said “This year several former Khalsa players have launched a Football academy at Judgemeadow Community College, Leicester and our representation at KFF tournament is a testament to their commitment and seva. We had the biggest FC Khalsa representation at the annual Walsall Junior tournament since the days of our much-respected Uncle Jagir Singh Ji with Under 11s and Under 13s reaching the semi-finals and the Under 9s were winners ably coached by Kam Sangha and Harvy Mann.”
RESULTS
UNDER 8s
1. GNG Leicester Eagles
2. Blue Tigers Derby (The Rams)
3. Nottingham Sikh Lions
UNDER 9s
1. FC Khalsa Leicester
2. GNG Leicester Eagles
3. Queens Park Bedford
UNDER 11s
1. Singh Sabha Slough
2. Queens Park Bedford
3. FC Khalsa Leicester
UNDER !3s
1. GNG Leicester Hawks
2. GNP Coventry
3. Singh Brothers Derby
UNDER 15s
1. Milton Keynes All Stars
2. Singh Brothers Derby
3. Nottingham Sikh Lions
Hockey Tournament
Five Senior teams Barford Tigers HC, Beacon HC, Ramgarhia Slough, NHA HC and G Nines HC took part in the adult’s section on Saturday when an exhibition game between London Vets and Midlands Vets took place at 4pm. The winner of the tournament received £1000 and the runner up taking £500. Hockey tournament is in its 12th year and the main objective is to raise awareness about the sport, create a competitive environment and encourage youngsters to play and pursue the sport at a national level.
Rashpal Singh of KFF said “It was a very successful tournament excellently organised by WASA. Even the weather was good on Saturday, but the presentation was somewhat spoiled by heavy rain towards the end. Next stop Birmingham on the weekend of 8th and 9th June 2024 at the same venue.”
To increase the participation of our youth and adult players in the academies and eventually in the Premier League, I humbly request the Khalsa Football Federation KFF to publicise the annual football tournaments at all the 300 or so Gurdwara Sahibs in United Kingdom, Radio Stations and Television Stations and Asian newspapers. Also, could the KFF also investigate the possibility of buying or building our own stadium where our youth and adults can be coached, charity games played against professional teams, as well as the. annual football tournaments held.
