NEWHAMS’S  LONDON APSA FLY HIGH AT STAMFORD BRIDGE

 

ASIAN COMMUNITY CUP CHAMPIONS – FINAL AT CHELSEAS HOME GROUND.

 

London Tigers Asian Community Cup held it’s third competition on the 14th, 15th and 16th of May 2005 at Warren Farm Sports Centre. This year they invited APSA to represent the Asian football community of Newham and Essex. The prestigious competition held each year offers the chance for the two finalists to play their final at Stamford Bridge, home of the Premiership Champions Chelsea FC.

 

16 teams from around the country, Rochdale Asia, Kent Sporting Bengals, London Bethnal Green, Glasgow Ansar and many more teams from towns and cities came to contest for the title of ASIAN COMMUNITY CUP CHAMPIONS. Groups games commenced on the Saturday with 4 groups of 4 and top two going through to the Quarter Finals and may be Semi Finals on Sunday.

 

Group Games

London APSA Football Club had to play five games over the weekend in order to have the privilege of playing at Stamford Bridge on Monday night. Tournament Manager Zulfi Ali took a selection of budding stars from the Sunday Asian League Youth Team and some more older and experienced players from the Essex Senior League Reserve and First Team. The aim was to give the better of the younger players a chance to mingle with the seniors, increase their experience, learning potential and assess their current capabilities with a view to arranging appropriate development.

 

In an intense and tightly fought opening encounter APSA overcame Shadwell FC. The game being poised at 1-1, after Captain Fahim Shah equalised for APSA with a brilliant volley from 25 yards, it took a great reverse pass from Furqan Anwar, to free Zabeer Khan. Khan kept his composure to finish clinically in injury time to open APSA’s tournament account with an important win. This was followed with a 3-2 victory over Grangepark Rangers. APSA raced into a 3-0 lead courtesy of a brilliant solo effort from Mohammed Dakri, who beat three defenders to coolly finish past the advancing goalkeeper. Unsal Kerrai added a penalty before Clinton Ford rose highest to powerfully head home from a Kerrai corner. APSA made several changes in the second half and took their eye of the game which enabled Rangers to score two late goals and add a bit of respectability to the score line. The last group game resulted in a 0-0 draw against Asia FC and was enough for APSA to progress to the Quarter Finals.

 

Quarter Final

A battling performance from APSA led to a hard fought 1-0 victory over the highly fancied Azaad from Wolverhampton. The victory lent mainly to a great all round defensive

performance most notably the solid back four of Asim Choudary, Fahim Shah, Majid Hussain and Urfat Hussain. 19 year old Faraz Khan at 6” 3’ promoted to forward duties rose to the occasion. His towering frame and amazingly quick feet made him and ideal partner for Dakri as he soaked up all the pressure and rose for the headers and crunched with solid tackles to rush defenders. His consistent hampering of defenders allowed Dakri to enjoy space and time and his physical presence in the APSA defensive third made life easy for his co players.

 

Steve Nichols provided the goal with a first time volley from the edge of the box that flew past the stranded goalkeeper. This was a defining moment in the tournament for APSA, not just because of the quality of the performance but also the emergence of the next generation of APSA stars. The performances of Faraz Khan and Hassan Miah iwere exceptional and have set them on a platform for progressing to the front ranks of the Senior Team.

 

Semi Final

APSA met Stepney FC in the semi final, a victory would put them through to the final on their debut in the tournament. A tightly fought encounter between two sides who had met many times in the past at the Asian League and various other competitions. This Tower Hamlets side had not yet managed to record a win against Newham’s APSA and things were no different today. The opening few minutes saw Stepney blocking in front of goal on 4 occasions. APSA would have thought it was not their day. But 16 minutes in Dakri, just back from his honeymoon scored another well taken individual goal. A pleasure to watch Dakri racing through, a shimmy, a drop of the shoulder and a burst of pace raced him clear of two defenders. He cut onto his favoured right foot and curled a rasping drive into the top corner.

 

APSA rushed to get the 2nd and third with Lette nearly on the score sheet as was F Khan nearly a hero. Tired legs showed all around the pitch and just when APSA smelt victory Stepney equalised while APSA debated the Flag or lack of it. With the game seemingly destined for penalties with 7 minutes to go, up stepped Furqan Anwar to score one of the goals of the tournament and seal a place in the final. Turbo Boost midfeilder Bimass Lette chipped a hopeful ball over the top, Anwar spun the defender as he turned using his chest, and struck the most sweetest volley from a tight angle past the goalkeeper. APSA were through to the final against last years Champions and hosts Westminster’s London Tigers.

 

Final

The final held at Stamford Bridge was an auspicious occasion for both finalists and APSA in all blue Chelsea colours took on Tigers in Orange and black.

 

The excitement of the big occasion was evident as both teams looked nervous, but determined to perform well. Tigers edged the early exchanges and looked sharper, with APSA

seeming to still have the butterflies. APSA looked towards their midfield for inspiration. The consistently excellent pairing of Nichols and Lette was at the heart of all of APSA’s play and continuously harassed the tigers whenever they were in possession.  Dakri and Khan worked tirelessly in the attacking third and their work rate produced two gilt edged chances in the early minutes. Both chances fell to Dakri who forced a save on the first and placed wide on the 2nd.

 

Tigers suffered a blow when their talisman midfielder Zaman Ali was carried of injured after only 17 minutes. APSA failed to capitalise on this and were duly punished when Phillips beat Kerrai and smashed a low drive past Khan. The tigers were roaring and had several chances to go ahead but couldn’t capitalise on their earlier superiority.

 

APSA were defending resolutely and with Lette and Nichols raising their performance every minute, it seemed to galvanise the team. APSA breakthrough came just before half time. Hussain switched the play out wide to Choudhury who pressed forward, and delivered a cross that was only half cleared by the tigers defence. It broke to Kerrai at the edge of the box. A quick adjustment of the feet and he unleashed a fierce low drive into the bottom corner to make it 1-1. APSA celebrations were cut short when the referee showed Kerrai his 2nd yellow card, this time for removing his shirt.

 

The second half saw a more determined and relaxed APSA, come from the home dressing room. Faces were calm but determined, a mission in mind and clear focused heads ready to compete with 10 men and eager to win this tournament. Manager Zulfi Ali had been short in his half time team talk focusing more on the requirements of the 2nd half than on shortcomings of the first half. “I want to come away today and laugh about Kerrai’s sending off and there’s only one way that can happen”.

 

An inspirational tactical half time substitution bought on the lively Clinton Ford, who made an immediate impact after he was bought down in the box for a penalty. His quick feet turned away from goal and encouraged a rash challenge and jubilation for APSA as Lette stepped up and with impish cheek clipped the ball into the net.

 

APSA were again guilty of switching off and sat back as Tigers pressed forward for an equaliser. The APSA defence again proved what a well organised unit they were, battling and fighting for the right to be crowned champions. Shah always making a battling block, Urfat Hussain an heroic header or Choudary making a tenacious tackle, and as always unsung heor Majid Hussain calmly and cleverly dealing with any unforeseen issues. APSA had the option of using the dangerous and pacy Dakri who was a willing and tireless outlet. Lette and Nichols just grew in stature. Indescribable. A performance too wonderful for words but we can but try. Every tackle broke tiger hearts, every run tore into their resistance, and continuous harassment whenever a tiger was in possession, led to their indecision.

 

Tigers were restricted to several long range efforts and Imran Khan, the APSA goalkeeper was never really troubled. With Tigers pressing forward APSA created a few chances. Ford and Dakri centre stage for most of the good play in the second half. Anwar coming close on two occasions, and Ford having a shot blocked on the line. With 25 to go, on came the fresh legs of Anwar and Bapu to give rest to the tireless workers Khana and Dakri. Fresh legs kept APSA well defended and even allowed oppurtunites to counter attack. APSA continued to defend heroically with ten men and held on to their slender 2-1 lead and win the coveted title of UK Asian Champions 2005.

                              

APSA Tournament Manager Zulfi Ali

“Quite overwhelmed at winning this tournament, it’s been a long time since I’ve taken a team out, all praise be to Allah. The boys were fabulous, They’ve worked very hard throughout the tournament, listening to every instruction and following plans to the letter. I was particularly impressed with the younger players, Faraz, Hassan, Ayaz and Waheed who showed great maturity and professionalism. Other still relatively young players like Majid and Bilal were awesome throughout and showed why they are the future of APSA. I’d like to thank my Assistant Manager and Youth Team Manager Zabir Patel for his help, without him we would not have been successful. Managing Director of JIP Financial Services Aaron King who provided the APSA kit and Team Coach is held in hig esteem and we wish his business every success. The tournament organisors and in particular Mesba Ahmed deserve much thanks for their stupendous effort in organising this fabulous event. I urge the Asian community and especially the business owners to get behind your local football teams and help produce the Asian football heroes of tomorrow.”

 

APSA Club Manager John Higley

“It’s a fabulous occasion and the talent and potential at APSA is huge. I can’t promise to make all this squad first team candidates but I can see a fair few players ready to fight for places at the Essex Senior League. We’ll be back home in Newham soon, so watch this space”