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On 25 November 2008, UK Channel S held a telephone interview with Md. Faruk Ahmed (who was somewhere in Bangladesh). He stated that he was unable to obtain the visas for the pilgrims (apparently was let down by a person who was going to arrange the visas) and because he feared backlash from the pilgrims (i.e. unable to take them to the hajj trip) he panicked (couldn't think straight) and fled to Bangladesh.

He said that he has realised his mistake and hopes to come back to the UK and start returning the monies that people had deposited with him (that is if and when all the pilgrims collectively ask for their money back). He will pay back by looking at the receipts he issued to the pilgrims.

In total he stated that he had taken approximately 308 passports. He had collected about £350,000 (not the £700,000 widely suggested) as not everyone paid the monies in full. Out of that he still has approx. £263,000.

The difference has been spent on expenses running the travel agency and deposit paid for the hotels in Saudi Arabia.

He has asked the pilgrims for their forgiveness as that is the only way he can be redeemed.

PIC: E Rahman

Tales from the bar

Frozen and thawed forever in the cold
They’ve smacked me with no mercy
Watched many a shooter offload
Not a slight hint of an apology

Hursty once spun and thumped me
Just one of millions of kicks
Football came to a standstill
Through my mischief in sixty six

Public gasp as the communal heart clogged
Somewhere in the region of a week
I spluttered and split my spleen
Whilst the nation held back a shriek

My merriment abruptly came to a cease
Spoilt by that man Tofik’s shrill whistle
An historic intervention indeed
One with the gale force off a missile

There’s been many moments of humour
Chiefly when Phil Babb played slide rule
Poor sod just couldn’t apply the brakes
As I gleefully thwacked his crown jewels

Nevertheless, a great comic moment
Agony etched all over his face
Or was it just a smirk or grin?
No, very much a painful grimace

Did you know that I have many friends?
All within footballing showbiz
Yashin, Banks, Maier, Schmeichal
Then there’s Higuita and Barthez

An old friend would hold me and tell me his woes
And bawl me when protecting his fort
Thus Dino held out for a record 13 games
With the Zoff I had a unique rapport!

I once gobbled up a knights belter
One who partnered mighty king Kev
An ever ready and suave gentleman
Better known now as Sir Trev

They kiss, hug, headbutt and shine me
Some even tap me thrice for good luck
A big no, no once during panto season
As Fatty Foulkes played Friar Tuck

With netside cams much unwelcome
Andy Gray has become an intrusion
Final Word technology has put paid
To my much valued one time seclusion

Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
http://www.football-poems.com/

My new book - Henry Delaunay's Dream

Haj 2008 pilgrims conned by rogue travel agent

On Thursday 13th November 2008, police raided the offices of Qibla Hajj Kafela Ltd (a rouge travel agent, based off Brick Lane in London) that conned over 300 pilgrims of fulfilling one of the five pillars of Islam - going to Hajj. The travel agent owned by Al-Haj Md. Faruk Ahmed was offering one of the cheapest Hajj Packages available this year (£2,300 and £2,500 for Hajj). He falsely claimed to be an authorised agent approved by the Ministry of Hajj of Saudi Arabia and his words to reassure people regarding the package made pilgrims trust him and his fellow workers. Md. Faruk Ahmed set up Qibla Hajj Kafela on 06.08.2008. He previously worked in a group called Al Qibla Travels Limited (a Ministry of Hajj authorised agent) the previous year and due to some dispute went his separate ways.

Suspicions arose when pilgrims who paid their monies went to collect their Passports and tickets from his office at an agreed pickup date and found out that the office was closed with a notice sign on the door.

Md. Faruk Ahmed and his staff were nowhere to be seen. Police raided the office and confiscated hundreds of passports and other documents from locked cupboards. It is estimated that this con artist could have made away with up to £700,000.

He is nowhere to be seen. If you spot him and his crew please contact the police immediately.Arrests will be made as people like this cannot hide forever, the world is small place. I just hope for his own safety the police catch him before any of the pilgrims he conned do.Here's a report in Bengali taken from WeeklyBangladesh.

Thanks to the efforts of individuals like Councillor abdal Ullah, Trading Standards and the Police I have been made aware that all the passports for the unfortunate pilgrims have been returned to their rightful owners. "this is by no means, the best outcome," said Councillor Ullah. "But at least those who wish to and can afford to, can look at booking a Haj trip with another travel provider.

"I would like to assure the community that all agencies involved are working extremely hard to locate the said individual behind this and we will update the public as soon as we have relevant information."

If you are a victim of the scam please telephone the police on this special number: 020 8217 4948 to reclaim your passport.If there is a victims groups set up or if you want to set one up please let me know and I will post it here.Additionally if there are any photographs of this person and his group members as well as any other details such as his address in UK or Bangladesh (possibly where he ran off to) would be useful. Remember any useful info should also be reported to the police - lets not let these crooks get away!

Here is a video report from BBC News - CLICK HERE
Here is a press release by Al-Qibla Travels - CLICK HERE
Here is a report in Asian News - CLICK HERE

You can also email in confidence info@al-islam.co.uk

Rory's rocket

He’s gained a rep somewhat of a loafer
“Who cares, launch it” bellowed the gaffer

For insight on Stoke Ramblers very own duffer
Read Brittania Pulis not zonal Red Rafa

To retrieve the ball you’d need a chuck wagon
Hefty throw from the hidden dragon

Pellet launched, weighing a hefty tonne
Bullet like force as the opposition it’ll stun

Just what of it all would Sir Stanley make?
As purists scream this football’s all fake

But as the fireball descends and opposing backs freeze
It’s more celebration at the potteries


Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
http://www.football-poems.com/

ALL CHANGE

Out today is the Obama T-shirt from http://www.philosophyfootball.com/ to mark a historic triumph for change in the USA. The design- at a special celebratory low price of JUST £14.99 - takes the words of Obama's victory speech in Chicago to form a stars and stripes, representing the very different America we must all hope his Presidency will help shape. Available in sizes S-XXL, and women's skinny-rib fitted too. Also still available is the superb Kanye West T-shirt 'Buy any jeans necessary'.

http://www.philosophyfootball.com/

Beardsley

Thus began the search to find the new king Kenny
Cost a record fee and most likely a pretty penny

Produce of the conveyor belt at Wallsend Boys Club
Diet Coke teetotaller who took a shimmy past the pub

An affable Red Merlin, he made the Kop glow
With a hit barber that was sponsored by Flymo

Heartstopping Adonis, Peter of the Mersey
One and only hipswaying Andrew Beardsley

With Barnesey, Houghton and Aldo he took us to he moon
Couldn’t fathom why he was let go so soon

Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com