Al-Qalam 
By Azra Hoosen
After weeks of competition on the netball courts and soccer fields, the Association of Muslim Schools (AMS) KZN gathered learners, coaches, parents, principals and organisers for a Champions Dinner that celebrated not only the winning teams, but also the people whose dedication made the tournaments possible.
Hosted in partnership with Al Baraka Bank, the evening brought together the winning Open Category soccer and netball teams on July 29th at the Al Baraka Bank Head Office in Kingsmead, Durban.
For AMS, the dinner marked the culmination of months of preparation, competition and collaboration between its affiliated schools.
AMS head of sports, Zain Muhammed, said the sporting programme has grown into much more than a series of tournaments. “Over the years we have built a real synergy between our affiliated schools, where the focus is on growing together. The sports wing is one where we encourage mass participation. The learners look forward to the tournaments every year, and they continue to get bigger and better,” he said.
Muhammed described the Champions dinner as a fitting conclusion to the season. “We culminate in this dinner to acknowledge the achievements of the learners, coaches and schools. It is important that they are recognised for the effort they have put in throughout the season,” he said.
Nasir Seedat, General Manager of Retail, Wealth and Marketing at Al Baraka Bank, told Al-Qalam that the Champions Dinner was about celebrating the people behind a successful sporting season. “While the trophies mark the end of the competition, we wanted to recognise the dedication, commitment and hard work that went into getting there,” he said.
The evening’s programme reflected both celebration and personal development. Proceedings opened with a recitation from the Qur’an, followed by welcome addresses from AMS and Al Baraka Bank.
One of the highlights was a leadership session presented by a Dale Carnegie representative, encouraging learners to develop the communication and leadership skills needed to succeed both on and off the sports field.
Guests also heard from one of the learners, who shared a personal reflection on the tournament experience and the opportunities it had created. The evening concluded with an interactive quiz before attendees gathered for dinner.
While the Champions Dinner recognised the Open Category tournament winners, Seedat said the season also placed significant emphasis on character.
During the tournament, the Akhlaaq Awards recognised one team in each age group for demonstrating exemplary character, respect, teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the competition. “We believe these qualities are just as important as winning because they reflect the true spirit of sport and the values we hope young people will carry with them throughout their lives,” said Seedat.
He hopes that learners left the evening with an appreciation that success extends beyond lifting a trophy. “The tournament reminded us that commitment, discipline and teamwork are essential, but so too are humility, respect and integrity,” he added.
Seedat said that recognising young people’s achievements encourages them to strive for excellence while reinforcing that character is as important as talent. “Sport teaches resilience, discipline and leadership, but it also teaches respect for teammates, opponents and officials. Those lessons stay with the learners long after the final whistle,” he said.
Reflecting on the broader impact of the AMS tournaments, Seedat said the events strengthen relationships between learners, parents, educators and schools while promoting healthy competition and mutual respect. “Sport has a unique way of bringing communities together. Success belongs not only to the players on the field, but also to the people who encourage and support them behind the scenes,” he said.
Looking back on the season, one moment stood above the rest. “For me, it was seeing the pride on the learners’ faces as they celebrated alongside their teammates, parents, coaches and principals. There was a real sense of joy and achievement in the room,” said Seedat.
He said that the evening reminded them that while sport is about competition, it is also about community, character and creating memories that young people will carry with them for years to come.
For the learners who gathered to receive recognition, the evening was not simply the end of a tournament; it was a celebration of a community that continues to grow together on and off the field.
