Yorkshire squad Palestine All-Stars win StreetGames finals
A squad of young footballers from Kirklees have come out on top after pitting their wits against teams from across the UK at the StreetGames Football Pools Fives.
The Palestine All-Stars qualified for the final having beaten tough regional competition and went on to win the men’s competition beating teams from across eight regional qualifiers.
They were crowned victorious alongside Peds Angels, a squad from Glasgow who won the women’s competition.
The two-day final was held at the National Football Centre in Burton-Upon-Trent, which has a Wembley-sized indoor 3G pitch and is where England’s national side prepare for their international matches.
Gareth Southgate, national ambassador for the StreetGames Football Pools Fives, said: “I’m a big believer in the opportunity that sport can present to young people and this programme is a perfect example. Congratulations to everyone who was involved at the National Final.
“Whilst being at St. George’s Park is a dream come true for these young finalists, the StreetGames Football Pools Fives programme has managed to engage with young people at events all over the UK and has given them a platform not just to compete but to explore wider opportunities including volunteering and coaching.”
The Palestine All-Stars squad attend the Kirklees Midnight Soccer Program at St John Fishers High School, which has been running for seven years.
Around 150 young people attend each week.
It provides opportunities for young people to play in regional and national competitions as well as the annual Kirklees Cup event.
The Palestine All-Stars squad was made up of Adam Zaman, Anees Younis, Aadam Chhibda, Abdullah Mayat, Muhammad Omar, Aamir Aswat, Rafaqat Hussain, and Youssef Elmanea.
