UK Asian Football Championship Final @ Celtic Park
Published: September 7, 2009
After our article the other day highlighting the racist attack on Celtic FC by the BNP, for showcasing the final of the UK Asian Football Championships, we thought we should give you an update and the result of the clash at Celtic Park. We have reproduced the article on the Official Celtic website unedited and this should certainly stick two fingers up to those who swim about in the gutter along with the other filth, the BNP.
Eastenders in Paradise
It was a fitting end to an enthralling competition, a hard-fought thriller that rolled on into extra-time and was ultimately decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Celtic Park was again the venue for this year’s UK Asian Football Championships, with semi-professional team, Sporting Bengal, hailing from East London’s Tower Hamlets, beating Wolverhampton’s Punjab United in the final.
The game on Sunday was tied at 1-1 at full-time, before the being decided by a penalty shoot-out, which Sporting won 5-4.
As Kash Taank, Sports Equalities Manager with Culture and Sport Glasgow, explained, it was the perfect end to yet another successful year for the championships.
“Notwithstanding the weather, and the fact that we were competing with the Great Scottish Run, I think it went very well,” he said. “We had some very close games, the teams represented their cities very well and it was a really enjoyable weekend and a good, evenly contested final.”
The championships involve eight teams, representing London, the Midlands, North West of England and Scotland and this was the 11th year that they have been running in conjunction with Celtic, with the club also lending its support to the organisers for 15 years.
Celtic have been involved from the offset, with the club hosting the first three championships and the finals now alternate between Celtic Park and Ibrox.
Kash commented: “We have a great relationship with Celtic, one that is nothing short of excellent.
“The support we have had from the club, from day one, is incredible. For us to be able to use the pitch is an honour, but for the club to support it with initiatives throughout the course of the year is phenomenal.”
The club is also proud to be associated with the Asian Football Championships and over the years a number of players have given their support in promoting the event, with Scott Brown meeting with players and organisers this season.
It has grown from humble beginnings and is now flourishing, promoting cultural understanding, community-wide, as well as providing the chance for young Asian players to showcase their skills on the big stage at Celtic Park.
“This was an event that was conceived in Glasgow and we work with the various confederations down south,” Kash added.
“Obviously, with the demographics of the Asian communities in Scotland and England, their populations tower over ours, but what is significant is that England cannot stage an event like we can.
“Therefore, we have seven teams from England travelling up each year and have been taking part for the last 11. Each team has said that this is the highlight of the Asian football calendar.
“Now, Sporting Bengal are a semi-pro side and on Saturday they were playing in the FA Vase Trophy, but they brought their strongest team to Glasgow. This meant more to them than the FA Vase and that says a lot.
“Words can’t describe what this competition means to a lot of these teams and that was in evidence on Sunday at the championship dinner.
“We are delighted to be associated with Celtic and are extremely grateful for all their support as well.”
Tagged with: asian, Celtic, celtic park, championship, football, uk
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