Al-Qalam 
Three KZN teams bring home the gold. Pictured: Hartley Road Primary School, Al-Falaah College and Orient Islamic School
By Azra Hoosen
Before the first whistle, there was the recitation of the Qur’an. Before the final score, there was a lesson in brotherhood. At the Association of Muslim Schools (AMS) National 7-A-Side Soccer Tournament, football brought together 83 teams from 30 schools across South Africa, with faith, sportsmanship and healthy competition at the heart of three days of action.
Held at Rooikrans Sports Ground in Cape Town under the theme “One Ummah, One Goal”, the biennial tournament welcomed young players from KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape, uniting them in a competition where how they played mattered as much as the results.
Zain Muhammad, AMS Durban sports coordinator, told Al-Qalam that the tournament began many years ago to foster brotherhood among learners from AMS-affiliated schools across the country, while giving them a platform to showcase their footballing skills through friendly rivalry and healthy competition.
KwaZulu-Natal schools came to impress, claiming three of the five age-group titles, with Hartley Road Primary School winning the U9 division, Al-Falaah College taking the U11 title and Orient Islamic School securing the U17 championship. Al-Azhar Primary School won the U13 division, while Roshnee Islamic School claimed the U15 title.
For Al-Azhar, the victory was even more significant as the school became the first from the Western Cape to win the AMS national tournament. The U13 team completed an unbeaten campaign without conceding a goal and also received the Akhlaaq Award for its conduct and sportsmanship.
Al-Azhar expressed pride in its learners, who began every match by reciting Surah Al-Fatiha and remained committed to performing Salah even on the field. Reflecting on the achievement, principal Zainoedien Petersen said: “Winning is wonderful, but winning with good character and remaining steadfast in our faith is an even greater achievement.”
The Akhlaaq Award was presented in each age category to the team that demonstrated the best behaviour. This year’s recipients were Crescent Primary (U9), Jam ‘Eyyatul Qurra (U11), Al-Azhar Institute (U13), Lenasia Muslim School (U15) and Ihsaan Boys (U17).
Muhammad noted that despite the intensity of the games, one of the most encouraging aspects of the tournament was the way players conducted themselves, shaking hands before matches and again after the final whistle.
KwaZulu-Natal’s strong showing extended beyond the results. Shaheen Mohamed, head of sports at Al-Falaah College, told Al-Qalam that the camaraderie among the province’s contingent stood out, with learners from different schools cheering one another on and offering support through victories and defeats. “The tournament helped learners build confidence and develop teamwork, discipline, resilience and respect,” he said.
In the U9 division, Hartley Road Primary School defeated Al-Falaah College in an exciting all-Durban final. Hartley Road coach, Dawood Maither, praised his players for their determination, particularly given the mammoth task of travelling to another province. “The tournament came with lots of challenges, but shukar, the boys stayed focused and went all the way to bring joy to our school, sponsors, community, and province,” he said.
At Orient Islamic School, the U17 title reflected the commitment of the players and coaching staff. The school’s sports department, HOD Mr A R Hyder and head of football and winning coach Mr Demaine Ho Chong, told Al-Qalam that competing nationally exposed learners to different playing styles while strengthening their confidence, responsibility and school pride. They also expressed pride in all eight teams that represented the school. “These tournaments allow coaches and educators to assess the progress of their players, identify areas for development and learn from different coaching approaches,” said Hyder.
Despite a cold and windy start, participants enjoyed the hospitality of their Western Cape hosts. Organisers and coaches were grateful that the learners gained many valuable life lessons, built new friendships and created lasting memories, with the Islamic environment reinforcing the importance of coming together beyond the pursuit of victory.
Sponsored by Standard Bank, the tournament will return in two years, with the next venue yet to be confirmed. AMS hopes to make the next event bigger and better, with Gauteng or KwaZulu-Natal among the possible locations.
