Published on Apr 11 2011 by SEJ Team

It was a tale of two incredible journeys into the final, with Tooting Bec and Hounslow North defying everyone’s expectations to reach the final. Both teams faced defeat along the way, and both in their own ways shared turning points which made them stronger as the tournament progressed. In additions they were also newly formed Qiadats still getting to know each other and through the course of this journey grew together, not only as a team but as brothers.

The Hub, Mitcham was a cauldron of emotions as support came from Middlesex and Baitun Noor Regions with Baitul Futuh boys also adding there support for Tooting Bec. Perhaps the support and banter from the sidelines and the pure passion to win fuelled both teams to play beyond anyone’s expectations. Akin to two champion boxers slugging it out in the final rounds, both Tooting and Hounslow played like neither wanted to fall down or quit. In the end, when it seemed that Tooting Bec had laid the killer punch in the latter stages of the match, Hounslow North again came back in the dying seconds to equalise. Champions pride perhaps, and by the end no matter which team you supported you had to acknowledge the strength and sheer will of the players on display.

And so it came down to penalties to decide. With the crowd looking on, nerves set in as both teams missed their first 2 penalties. Haris Sethi then stepped up for Hounslow North, the top scorer in the Tournament against Hanan Parveen the Goalkeeper of the Tournament. On this occasion Hanan won the battle, but no doubt there will be many more battles between the two in the years to come. Zeyn Khan took advantage of the opportunity and tucked away the winning penalty to allow Tooting Bec to defy all the odds and become Champions of London.

We look forward now to the next instalment of the London IFL, as more Qiadats look to add there teams to league and challenge the current Qiadat Champions of London, Tooting Bec.

 Watch Final IFL Highlights

See also http://www.football.khuddam.org.uk for MKA Sadr Majlis comments on the IFL Tournament and also post match reactions from Tooting Bec