Claiming to be the first asian girl to captain a multicultural 11-aside team, Sabah Mahmood is looking to lead her newly-formed London Bari side to promotion at the first attempt.
A striker and also the club’s General Match Secretary, Sabah wears the hijab and leads her team despite her young age, whilst off the field the university graduate works as a foreign exchange broker.
Sabah recalls the lack of opportunity for Asians playing in her area, she found it very hard to make a break in her former Essex League team of Redbridge, as she was constantly being benched. Unable to drive, she had to persuade her parents to take her across Essex most weekends but missing out on so many games, Sabah took some knocks to her confidence and at one point believed she wasn’t good enough to play football, so left the team altogether.
Over the next couple of months, Sabah played football as a hobby, getting involved in small games with family and friends. It was at this point Sabah was once again pushed forward by her friends and teachers who saw potential in her and told her she should definitely sign up for a new team.
Sabah took on board what her loved ones told her and she found a North London-based group who played 5-aside tournaments. In her first fitness session, Sabah was apparently that impressive that she was immediately asked by the hosts to join their team.
Sabah went on to get involved in several tournaments where she met another girl with whom she set up the London Bari side. They had heard there was a men’s team at the mulitcultural club but this be the first time a women’s team was going to be set up there.
London Bari is a self-funded side made from scratch by Sabah and her friend, who looked out for players from international tournaments for their Hackney-based side. The team now consists of Dutch, German, Italian and Spanish women, encouraging diversity and talent, all for the love of the game.
London Bari is performing well at the moment and in contention for the Greater London League Division 3 North title, with Sabah leading the way as the top scorer. Turning up in her joggers and hijab, even the referees are left praising her skills during her fast-paced game.
Encouraging more Asian girls to play football, Sabah states that; ‘the best feeling is playing for 90 minutes and for once spectators and everyone are impressed with your talent before looking at the colour of your skin. The journey gets more exciting and special when you face challenges and obstacles along the way’.
Sabah also says; ‘Football is my way to put Asians and Muslim women on the map in this country. We say we are a diverse country and London is supposed to be the most diverse of them all, so what’s stopping our girls from joining football clubs and other sports clubs?’
Although Sabah feels her greatest achievements so far is playing at the Olympic Arena in a Futsal Tournament hosted by the FA and gaining recognition after scoring five goals in a friendly game, she has since been announced as one of four nominees for the 2015 Asian Women In Fooball Award, with the winner to be declared at Wembley Stadium on November 19th.
Also nominated by multi award-winning Muslim Women’s Sport Foundation ambassador Salma Bi, Sabah is honoured to be part of the #GetHerInTheGame campaign run by Sporting Pathways.
The young role-model now looks forward to travel to cities such as Birmingham and Nottingham to encourage more Asian girls to get into Football.
Her future goals are to play in the National Futsal Team and to take London Bari into the Premier Division, as the first and only multicultural 11-aside team captained by an Asian girl.
Photos: londonbarifc.co.uk
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