The Rooster Voice staff

November 24, 2008

Sunrise, Fla. – Soccer season has officially launched past weekend for the students of local South Florida Islamic Schools. On Sunday, November 23, 2008, students, families, coaches and community supporters met at Islamic Foundation of South Florida grounds for a morning of competition. The schools participating included Salah Tawfik Elementary and Middle School (STEMS), Al Azhar Elementary and Middle School , and Garden of Sahaba Academy (GSA). 

“It is a great sight to see our students competing hard in this beautiful atmosphere of friendship and sportsmanship,” one of the spectators Samir Kakli said.

Leagues consisted of elementary age children all the way to middle school students. The sight was impressive with games simultaneously being held on three different fields. All the teams performed with good sportsmanship and behavior.

The two games by the Middle School Boys Teams were both won by STEMS. Game one was played by STEMS against Al Azhar, tied at 0-0 at the first half. It wasn’t until the second half when first Ali Shuaibi and then twice Mohammed Saad scored goals, finishing the game with a score of 3-0. No one received any cards and game finished in good terms.            

Game two for the boys was just as intense. It was tied again after the first half at 0-0. The second half began with Muhamed Abdul Malik scoring first goal for STEMS. The GSA then pushed hard with Melik McBride, Muhamed, Noah and Faris trying hard to score, but STEMS defense was again impenetrable. There was no let up in the game until very last second when Amer Khan scored winning and final goal for the day, finishing the game 2:0 for STEMS. Same player, Khan, received yellow card during the second half for not stopping the ball after the referee called fault.

“It was a hard game and for the moment I thought it will be a tie,” said Timur Krijestorac, goal keeper of STEMS. “But then, Abdul Malik scored and that gave us boost to win the second game too.”

The girls of STEMS also had a tight competition too. The first game they played against GSA was neck and neck, with GSA wining at a final score of 1-3. However, in their second game against Al Azhar, the GSA girls came back victoriously with a score of 2-9.

All teams played with teamwork and spectators enjoyed the sight of South Florida Islamic Schools united. The season will continue for about nine more weeks. To find out more about game days, locations, and about joining the Islamic Soccer League you can contact Brother Fuad at 954-261-7090 or for girls’ sports competition e mail: siswardah@gmail.com.

“We look forward to a great soccer and sports season,” sister Warda said. “We hope that our parents and community will come out and support our young people as they participate in sports activities for our Islamic Schools of South Florida.”

Brother Fuad called on all other local Islamic Schools to join the league and, as he said, it does not matter if it is full time or just weekend school they are all welcome to join the league.

The sentiments of parents and teachers were also positive about the start of the league. 

“Finally we have a place where we can hold this kind of activities and where our children can play and interact in such a nice way,” third grade teacher, sister Lenka, said.

The league had a nice start and it is now up to the parents and community to support the activity to be fully successful, sister Lenka said.