London Marathon 2007 Diary: DAYS 7 & 8

I did 15 miles (or just under before running out of steam) on Monday, but a whopping 18 miles today. Feel slightly sore. Started proper fundraising today. None of my tightfisted mates or colleagues have chipped in anything yet, some owe me for my first run 3 years ago. One owes me 50 euros, I'm gonna start naming and shaming publicly soon. Anyone with a spare few quid? Please get in touch. I'm hoping to treat the girls at Amani Foundation to a summer holiday treat, dependant totally on what I raise.

Real democracy in action: More pics

Photos: M. Misbah

Shopping Frenzy at Fish Bazaar

EMDAD RAHMAN


An innocent bystander would think that the end of the world was nigh, judging by the frenzied flock of shoppers beating a path to an East London fish store. 


Fish Bazar in Shadwell has seen an amazing flurry of activity in the last few days, mainly due to a unique sale on fish items. A four day fish sale has led to near hysteria as Bangladeshi fish lovers have travelled to Shadwell from the length and breadth of the country.


Ana Miah, who travelled down from Devon was in an ebullient mood; " I've bought a big van down" he said. The small Bangladeshi communities in Devon, Cornwall and Exeter are deprived of foods from the homeland. For us a trip to the shop is a day out and we usually stock up for months. "I'm taking all this down for a few families and we'll split the costs between us. There's been loads of wonderful bargains thanks to Fish Bazaar."The highlight of the day was a gigantic catfish, which will be sliced into thin strips to be sold separately. "One strip is enough to cater for a small dinner party" a member of staff told me.


The giant catfish is still way off the world record. A stunning 646 pound Mekong catfish was caught and eaten in Thailand in 2005.

Lucky sod!

This is Councillor Abdal from Tower Hamlets. we used to be classmates at Stepney Green Academy, sorry Stepney Green Boys School. I want all my readers to know that I've been promised a similar pic with my boys and old big ears when it comes to Tower Hamlets in April. I'm going to hold him to it!

London Marathon 2007 Diary: DAY 7

Another very good 15 miler. This time I took a 15 minute prayer break in Goodmayes and the stretching and quick water break help. A colleague beeped me on the road, another said she saw me running. Training is going very well. I need to get some sponsors fast though.

Carrom Tournament organized by Bangladesh Indoor Sports

The 1st Carrom Tournament organized by Bangladesh Indoor Sports is over. Saturday 10th February 2007 saw the Men's Single Final match:

Mohammad Riazul Islam (Akatuallah)
vs
S. Mahmud (Babu)

Mohammad Riazul Islam (Akatullah) won the match 2-1.The Award Ceremony was followed a wonderful cultural show.

Photographs of the event are available by clicking here.

A brochure to commemorating the whole event can be viewed http://www.banglaevents.org/bist-2006/brochure.pdf">here.

The organisers reserved thanks for
Abu Kazi (Rubel) , Taposh Baurua (Photographer), Shaheedul Islam (Prince), Mahrun Islam (Happy), Mohitosh Talukder Taposh, Nita Mahalanobish, Anjuman Chowdhury (Mukta), Mohammad Mustafa (Rinku)

Poem: Video nasty!

Coming soon to a stadium near you, Steve Round Productions brings you a cracker

Roll up for an exclusive screening, of the Old Trafford Chainsaw Massacre

Pre match fans nerves, would it be a dour draw or a goal spree?
But on the pitch the poor lambs got their little boots clogged in ghee
As defeat to Espana led to a horror DVD

Starring -

Benny from Watford, upon sighting the ball he fled
Arms flailing wildly ala Dawn of the dead

Good old G Neville played himself as shop steward
Nasty after game comments had him well and truly skewered

Villa reduced Rio to an imitation of The Wicker Man
Nightmare on Elm Street, screamed the boisterous Stretford clan

Woody the mad axe murderer looked like he'd emerged from a pond
Pinged useless long balls, all into The Beyond

Dependable P Neville's return seemed like a horrid dream
No left sided option left viewers wanting to Scream

Stevie G starred as England's Chief Kaiser
More starring rolesfor the reformed Hellraiser

A non show from Carricko, does Ray Wilkins still exist?
Can't help with your gaping expressions mate, you need an Exorcist

"I can play with Stevie" Lamps was Les Diaboliques
How we all pine for his ruthless goal streak

Boy blunder Phillips epitomised crosses to Vampyr
Ninety more minutes and he would've threatened to perspire

Crouchie had things on mind, had he forgotten the rent?
As Iniesta's strike pushed England into The Descent

Wonderboy Dyer had Roeder of the North East scowling
Pity the rest of the nation were left Howling

On a bleak night Macca's men failed to enthrall
Twelve horror flicks mentioned in this pome, can you spot them all?

(c) Emdad Rahman - 16.02.07
www.footballpoets.org

Poem: El Diego's boots

A dream come true
One that constantly replayed and had been easy to construe

Oh what a glorious day of sunshine it had been
The savings box emptied my smile stretched, from Bognor to Berlin

I realised that the moment was close,When I would be the proud owner of a Diego boot
You see I was the barrel chested ones latest fanclub recruit

Sprinting down to the Whitechapel Road I dragged me Mam
Dropping a shopping bag en route, breaking a jar of strawberry jam

"You wear them, you'll play like him" the shop assistant said
I believed every word as my beaming smile spread

A walking Ambassador I became, oh did I put those boots to use
On grass, tarmac and concrete, there was many a bruise
"Wear the boots," a voice said, " and the class will ooze"

The old sandpitch on the Berner Estate
Not ideal for that surface, but that was open to debate

Even wore them to school on an odd day or three
"Get them off," a hawkeyed Margaret wailed like a banshee

Dream is all I did as I wore them with honour
Yes the one and only Puma Maradona

(c) Emdad Rahman - 10.02.07
www.footballpoets.org

Mohammedan clean sweep at awards

EMDAD RAHMAN

At the recent youth achievement awards hosted by the Tower Hamlets Youth Work Training Forum at Tower Hamlets College, local Team Mohammedan Sporting Club (London) showed how hard work results in great success.

Members of the Mohammedan Youth Academy were awarded the prestigious sports Diploma from the World Youth Cup Organisation and also certificates from their success at the FootBiz sports program.

Mohammedan Sporting Club (London) has been enjoying ongoing success locally, nationally and internationally since the 1970’s. 2006 was a very successful year for the Club.

Returning from a very successful tour of Bangladesh, where the team fielded its emerging youth team against popular regional and select team(s) to return un-defeated from all games played. Going on to complete a very impressive cup campaign in the Inner London Amateur Football League (ILAFL), to go and win in impressive style by beating opponents Vallance FC 5-0, in the Cup Final.

Mohammedan also completed a very successful campaign at the UK Asian Community Cup Safer Neighbourhood Football Tournament, Sonali Bank UK Cup and Channel S Challenge Cup competitions.

Mohammedan SC are; 4 Times Premier Division Winners, 2 Times Runners-up, 3 Times Cup Winners and 3 Times Cup runners-up during the last 10 years of the Bangladesh Football Association (UK) Summer League.

Only conceding 3 goals in the whole 2006 league and finishing undefeated, surely a league first, and an awesome display of the young talent being nurtured at Mohammedan today.

Mohammedan SC also celebrated this summer after winning the UK Bangladeshi Championship, another project of the BFA, hosted this year by Westwood FC in Oldham. Bringing together the cream of Bangladeshi talent from across the UK. Mohammedan beat rivals from Birmingham SFL 2 -0 to take their 2nd UK Bangladeshi Championship title in the tournaments 4th year of existence.

At the same time, members of the Mohammedan Youth Academy descended on the National Training Centre, Bisham Abbey. Training facilities for non other than the England Football Team. Members of the MSC Youth Academy were the first in a national program to participate in a new project titled ‘FootBiz’. Taking young people from different communities to look at the commercial and business elements of sports and football, as well as the wider benefits to community and enterprise.

The course was lead by business executives, professional and ex-professional sports personalities, international management development strategists. Completing a week of intense training and development, as well as showing of their footballing skills, members of the MSC Youth Academy were recognised for, skills, ability and innovation, when they took first prize at the awards ceremony presented by industry leaders, including the CEO of Mars, and David Dean of Arsenal FC for youth enterprise.

Other success during 2006 included:

An awesome display by Mohammedan under 18’s at the World Youth Cup in Sweden, attended by over 1,500 select teams from over 60 different countries. Competing against ‘the best of the best’

This year the team participated in the under 18’s category of the tournament, which saw some of the most fierce competition from across the globe. The tournament attracted over 1,500 teams form over 60 countries this year. With 30,000 plus players and 4,000 plus coaches form around the globe, it was a great experience which took place straight after the World Cup finals in Germany.

Highlights included other than the football, 45,000+ people opening ceremony and international media coverage, full page spread in the Swedish newspapers alongside Turkish team Galatasary and Algerian team from Zinadine Zidan’s home town.

The footballing experience came to a close for Mohammedan at the last 16 stage of the tournament after losing 1 – 0 to a very well established Swedish team dating back to the 1950’s. The team was expecting a quarter or semi-final position, but it wasn’t to be on this attempt. Injuries and exhaustion took its toll on players. What professionals try to do over a month at the World Cup, the World Youth Cup is completed within 1 week, with a possible 10 games.

Mohammedan SC players also participate in the Sporting Bengal United team, which they were instrumental in creating. The first Asian team to participate in the world famous FA Cup competition in 2005. Players also take part in playing in the Kent Senior League for Sporting Bengal, and the UK Asian Championships hosted annually in Glasgow and Ibrox stadium, and the Inner City World Cup in London.

The Club would like to thank its supporters for their kind efforts namely the support of Islamic Relief UK, MSC (London), BFA UK, YES project, E.One.2000, GrassRoots Talent UK, & Anam Hoque (PACE)

Ayman Qenawi @ the London Muslim Centre

Topic | The Challenges of Media propaganda
Guest | Aymen Qenawi
Time | 6:00pm
Venue | London Muslim Centre (1st floor)46 whitechapel Road, London E1

The media in its various forms has always been a powerful tool but not more so then in today's global World village. With the advent of the Internet and the advancement of technology, communication with the mass populace has never been easy as is today; people can be reached in the most remoteness place on earth.

The media plays a vital role in our daily lives and is a tool that can influence the thoughts and minds of millions, Muslims in Britain have no choice but to integrate and engage themselves within all aspects of public life and not least to be proactive in presenting themselves in the media, to reach out far and wide. Invited guest to the Halaqah this week, Ayman Qenawi.**

**Ayman Qenawi has a B.A in English Language & Literature, Faculty of Arts, Cairo University, 1996. His four-year study covered a Pre-masters diploma and English Literature. Currently he is the Senior Editor, English News Desk, Egypt's state-run Middle East News Agency (MENA) and also the Managing Editor, English News Desk of the pioneering website, IslamOnline.net.

Info: 07930 38 08 87

halaqah@ifeonline.org
www.islamicforumeurope.com

London Marathon 2007 Diary: DAY 6

Continuing my rhythm from yesterday, I did the same route today, knocking off 15 minutes in the process. The drizzly weather in the morning led to a later start. My breathing was fine and I'm happy with progress. Feel a bit more sore but stretching limbs is the key. Might even do another run tomorror, regardless of health advice not to so. By the way I'm running for Amani Foundation, an east London Charity. Please email if you would like to sponsor me.

London Marathon 2007 Diary: DAY 5

Fantastic run. Passed 15 miles today... and I still have to lose two stone. Route covered Upney Lane, Lodge Avenue and Longbridge Road in Barking, before running up Goodmayes. I passed Goodmayes and King George's Hospital ( I was born there) before turning left into Newbury Park. On spotting 5 miles to Ilford sign I decided that this would be a long one. Ran all the way down, before turning onto Cranbrook Road, passed Valentines Park, Ilford Lane and back home. Feel like a diamond. Roll on day 6...

Respect Against Racism In Barking & Dagenham

The Respect Party launched their campaign to build an alternative to racism and bigotry in the Borough of Barking and Dagenham on Thursday 8 th February. Speakers at the public meeting included Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, George Galloway, Newham Respect Cllr Hanif Abdulmuhit and others. Barking and Dagenham residents filled the venue to hear why they should join Respect and why Respect is the only party that can oppose the mounting divisions and intolerance in the Borough.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Hanif Abdulmuhit said: "In 1997 we had high hopes for the Labour government as we needed a r eplacement to the Tories who had for two decades plundered the country's resources and dismantled any concept of community, social justice and unity. But the New Labour government fail ed to deliver on their promises here in the East end and nationally. Barking and Dagenham like Newham need to oppose New Labour and the Tories but also need to oppose parties whose foundations ar e rooted in some of the most vile and vicious racist ideologies, who want to divide society and pit races against one another, and whose views oppose the very concept of equality that our democracy rests on. In no way must we resort to the racist and fascist views that are propagated by these people. Respect is the only viable alternative to such hate, greed and division in the Borough of Barking and Dagenham and the rest of the East end."

(from left to right) – Michael Gavin (Chair of Newham Respect), Lindsey German, Cllr Olliur Rahman (Tower Hamlets Respect), MP George Galloway, Cllr Hanif Abdulmuhit (Newham Respect)

Photo: M.Misbah

Poem: Hot air bag

Who'd have thought that a bag of hot air
Would entertain a billion?
A day would come when the bag juggler's flair
Would set Chairmen back a cool million

Who would have thought that a bag of hot air
Could also cause much misery?
War breaks out, Honduros and El Salvador
Proof the pictures not all colourful and shimmery

Who would have thought that a bag of hot air
would dominate countless a schoolboy dream
Bulging stadia with all thefanfare
All frenzily cheering on their team

So to all who are there or in a comfy armchair
Lets preserve our love of this bag of hot air.

(c) Emdad Rahman - 10.02.07
www.footballpoets.org

Poem: Bust that onion bag!

What a scintillating feeling when the ball hits the net
Conjured up through through sheer blood, tears and sweat
Penalty precision
Six yard box incision
Spectacular free kick
Huh! the wall lost a brick
Forty yard piledriver
All a part of moments to savour
Or even the Goalie's punt
That could even be saved by my Aunt
As time becomes slow motion it adds up to one emotion
A universal ecstatic sensation

(c) Emdad Rahman - 10.02.07
www.footballpoets.org

Liverpool - A fan's perspective...

Poem: Jumping Jackflashes

Klinsmann said to Johnson; "nosedive and retire,
"Just like a stricken spitfire"

Rivaldo said to Rojas; "Use the blade, let some skin part,
"And hit the deck like a wayward dart."

Paolo said to Alcock; " I'll push, you pirouettte like a dancing Shaikh,
"We'll do our very own rendition of Swan Lake."

Not to be outdone, Ronaldo said to Robben; "for the panto we'll fancy dress,
"And have the last laugh over Ortega and Pires.

Divers,the villains of the football panto
Make or break, for a friend or foe

The worst the guilty get is a ban or a fine
Or for artistic excellence, a credible nine point nine.

(c) Emdad Rahman - 10.02.07
www.footballpoets.org

Is young Scientist quantifying the darkness of outer space

http://www.openmindsblogspot.com/HOME/tabid/36/EntryID/24/Default.aspx#Comments
Please read and leave a comment...

London Marathon 2007 Diary: DAY 4

Have been worried due to experiencing chest pains. Another very good run today. Ran just over 11 miles and could have done more. Feel good, needed the adrenalin rush.