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21/05/06
Unity Cup Final - Glasgow Ansar v Unreal Madrid

The Unity Cup Final in Glasgow is always an excellent match, this year was no exception.

The Unity League is an excellent working example of a football league which is free from discrimination and has anti-discrimination as a key policy for all the participating clubs and players.

SRTRC spoke to Glasgow Ansar and Unreal Madrid after the game. First up is Graham Cairns, founder and Manager of Unreal Madrid. He had formed Unreal Madrid back in 1991 as a five-a-side team and developed it into one of the top amateur teams in Scotland at the small game.

Unreal Madrid

Graham told us,….In 2002 Unreal Madrid were invited to join the Scottish Unity League and I decided to take up the challenge and form a full 11-a-side squad, which could carry the success forward form the 5's. Although most of the Unreal players are older now in their 30's and 40's, we have played football to a reasonably high standard in the past and have proven to be a potent force since joining the Unity League. The team have been league runners up 3 times (pipped twice on the last day of the season for the title) and put 2 trophies in the cabinet. Infact today Unreal Madrid were defending the trophy as 2004/05 winners of the Scottish Unity Cup.

As we expected the cup final today was very even and hard fought. With the first half hour being dominated by a younger, fitter and faster Ansar team. That early pressure paid off after 15 mins when a cross from the left wing produced a header, which was deflected into the net off one of our defenders. Slowly but surely though we began to get our passing game going and clawed our way back into the match. We strung several good moves together as Ansar's initial energy started to blow itself out. We went close on a couple of occasions before finally levelling in 30 mins when Michael Tolland headed home from a corner. I felt the remainder of the first half was more even as we started to impose ourselves on the match.

At the start of the second half Ansar again upped the tempo of the game and caused problems down our left hand side. One mazy run in particular after 60 mins produced a lunging tackle from our captain to give away a free kick 25 yards out from goal. The resultant free kick was knocked square to the incoming player who was somehow unmarked. He took a touch and set the ball up before rifling a right foot shot through a packed box low into the net. Once again though the Unreal experience and determination allowed us to control the rest of the game. We hit the post on two occasions in the last 20 mins and with 15 minutes left, scored a goal, which was chopped off for offside. Observers on the sidelines have said it should not have been ruled out, as it was a legitimate goal. However, I would'nt criticise the ref or linesmen who I thought had excellent games. Personally the guys are feeling as though it just was'nt our day as in addition to these incidents we also missed a point blank header from 2 yards out with 3 mins left to play and our keeper did'nt really have a save to make in the second half. But that's football..!!!

Overall the game was very competitive between two decent sides and even with the pressure of a cup final, it demonstrates that we can all enjoy the game with no hint of racism or sectarianism. This is the approaching the end of Unreal Madrid's 4th season in this superb league, which has ex-senior and junior footballers from all races and religions competing. The standard is very good and it allows us the opportunity to play against the best players from different races and cultures. The games are always competitive but nobody ever crosses the border and gets involved in racism or other forms of bigotry.

Glasgow Ansar

SRTRC also managed to talk with a jubilant and, after being thrown into the shower room by the team, a very wet Zubair Malik manager of Glasgow Ansar. First half goalscorer and Queens Park player, Harry joined us.

This is the second time Ansar has won the Unity Cup in three years. With Unreal winning it last year, this was to be no easy Cup final.

Zubair kicked off the interview - "During the first half we were on top of the fast paced game. Unreal didn't get out of their own half. Imran Yaqub had a chance to open the scoring early on but headed over from 3 yards. After 15minutes Harry, the smallest and youngest player on the park, scored the opener with his head from an excellent cross from Hadji.

We had another chance, the keeper made a good save as Harry was played through by Imran AKA Mintit. The pressure was still on and Hadji had a strike on a volley from a Prince cross.

Chances were created time and time again but the second goal didn't go in.

In the last 15 of the first half, Unreal pegged us back. We cleared our lines and gave away a corner. Unreal popped up and Michael Tolland got the equaliser. At half time it was all level.

We came back on and had to lift ourselves after having such a good first half. At the start of the second half we put Unreal under pressure but soon they got control. We had a few shots but just couldn't get the last ball through. We formed two good banks of four to try and stop them and the plan was to hit them on the break. Rashid made two great saves to keep Ansar in the game as the Unreal striker broke through and nearly took his chance on goal.

After 65 mins Rayhan ran past four men before being brought down. From the free kick, Sohaib squared the ball to Rayhan who then shot from 25 yards on his bad left foot, he unleashed a magnificent shot into the lower right corner of the net. It was a fitting goal from Man of the Match Rayhan.

From this point on it was Unreal Madrid who were looking for the equaliser. Ansar's back line was strong and tactical substitutions were made. Shan was brought on as a striker up front to relieve the pressure from the defence. The fresh legs created a chance for Harry to kill the game but the defence was too strong and came away with the ball. Shan and Atta had chances to make it 3-1 but the chances were squandered.

During the last 10 minutes Unreal Madrid played the long ball hoping for knock downs. They created a great chance to level the game, the crowd went silent as the ball flew past the keeper and hit the post.

Ansar made another tactical sub and brought on Suji, the number 1 goalie in danger of a penalty shoot-out. Suji made 2 goal line clearances from corners and kept Ansar in the lead.

Ansar's hearts were in their hands as the final minutes drew in but they kept strong and fought for each other. Ansar came away with a memorable victory, winning the cup for a second time in three years. It was a great spectacle for the onlookers."

Zubair went onto to speak about the aims and objectives of Ansar and the place the Unity League has in demonstrating a successful method of preventing discrimination from the teams, the players and the support.

"Ansar stands for All Nations Sports And Recreation, we are a multi-cultural organisation that deals with sports, events and holiday programmes. Every player in the team has to sign an agreement to say they will help combat racism, sectarianism and bigotry and will not take part in any form of discrimination. Ansar hasn't witnessed any racism in the game for a number of years, this is due to the hard work of the management and the players alike.

We have a zero tolerance policy, which is both internal and external, we will not lie down and accept racism. We will address any racism that we come across, through the correct channels. We will not rise to prejudices or ignorance.

This league was set up with all this in mind, and these points are in the leagues constitution. We have four or five good BME teams in the league. FIFA and UEFA could use the Unity League as a successful example of a league which will serve negative penalties if racism arises. The penalties can have the desired impact, the clubs will prevent the abuse occurring under these threats."

Harry's interview

Haroon Ahmed has been a professional with Queens Park U17's since October 2005 and was a key player in todays cup winning final opening up the scoring early in the first half.

Show Racism The Red Card asked Harry how he was finding playing as pro.

Harry - "Billy, our manager, brought in a few players at the same time as I signed. Since then we started getting results and we've gone up to mid-table, we played 11 games unbeaten. The manager say's I've a good future ahead of me and I'm now looking to step up the rankings to the U19's, so it's looking good so far."

How do you enjoy playing with Ansar ?

Harry - "Ansar gives me good experience of playing against adults, it's always a great passing game. The confidence I gain with Ansar helps me with my own team. It builds on my maturity and keeps me shouting for the ball."

Have you witnessed racism as a player?

Harry - "At Queens park everybody has been good, I've never seen or heard any racism. Two or three seasons ago I was playing for the Jags against Killie and one of the Killie players gave me abuse shouting 'Black B.' and Black this and that. I didn't let it get to me, I don't tolerate it and wouldn't lift my hands. I didn't report it, but the fans did. The player was chucked out by his club and banned from playing professional football."

Zubair - "Harry's personality helps him, he's not shy when going into a new group of people. He's gained a lot of confidence through his time with Ansar. He has an adult mentality. His personality commands respect and people take to him quickly. It's all about his skill, not colour."

What message do you have to other young players coming through or wanting to take up football?

Harry - "Follow your heart and go try out for clubs no matter whether the clubs are Black or White, do what you have to do. I'm the only Asian at the team and it doesn't affect me, if you have the chance why not take it?"

Zubair - "If you have the talent, the talent shines through no matter what colour you are."

Show Racism The Red Card would like to thank Graham, Harry and Zubair for their time and match reports.