London Bangla A Force for the community…
Muhammad Talha
The Inter City Bangla Cup made its long awaited return to London after the Ramadan break and Eid celebration, as the League roared back into life at the Royal Docks Academy.
Featuring teams from Kent, Sussex, Essex, Luton, Birmingham and hosts London, the tournament lived up to its billing as a festival of football and community spirit.
London hit the ground running, continuing their red hot form with superb displays across three games, notching up 13 goals to secure maximum points and extend their lead at the top of the table to 13 points.
In their opening match, London dismantled KSE 6-1. Saiful Islam was solid between the posts, delivering a commanding performance and keeping KSE at bay. Helal Uddin marked his return with a goal, while Saim Hussain and playmaker Nasim Ahmed added their names to the scoresheet. Masum Ahmed grabbed a brace, and captain Aktar Hussain calmly converted a penalty to seal an emphatic win.
The second match saw London square off against fierce rivals Birmingham Legends in a tense encounter. The Brummies piled on the pressure early on, but keeper Raqeeb Shamim was immense, producing a string of crucial saves to keep the game level. London’s defence stood firm, with Mams Uddin, Mofojul Ali, and Kamruz Zaman turning in steadfast performances. Midfielder Anamul Hoque’s composure in possession helped stem the tide. At the other end, Masud Miah was the clinical difference, bagging a stunning hat trick to clinch a 3-1 victory.
“Credit to London, they were more clinical than us,” said Anayeth Hussain of Birmingham Legends. “It was a great contest and we’ll bounce back.”
The final match of the day saw London dismantle Luton 5-1. Akbal Ahmed marked his return with a goal, finishing off a fine move started by Sherif Ahmed. Masum Ahmed, Aktar Hussain, Masud Miah and Helal Uddin completed the scoring in another dominant showing.
Hat trick hero Masud Miah, now the overall top scorer in the Inter City Cup said: “It was a great team effort. Everyone played their part and we’re just enjoying our football.”
The Inter City Bangla Cup celebrates heritage, unity and healthy living among the veteran community across UK cities. While praise must go to all competing sides for their effort and sportsmanship, it’s London who currently lead the charge.
Despite the dominant displays, head coach Emdad Rahman remains grounded: “We’re not looking at the table. It’s one game at a time, and we’re enjoying the journey.”
Team London Squad:
Md Raqeeb Shamim – Saiful Islam – Mamun Uddin – Sherif Ahmed – Saim Hussain – Kamruz Zaman – Akbal Ahmed – Anamul Hoque – Masud Miah – Helal Uddin – Saad Miah – Mofojul Ali – Masum Ahmed – Nasim Ahmed – Aktar Hussain (captain) Head Coach: Emdad Rahman
For fixtures, updates and results, visit: www.intercitybanglacup
