A Brief History of NZMSA
By Haji Mohammed Azeem (Life Member)
The year was 1993, the month October and the venue Bill Mckinlay Park when some brothers set on a journey that culminated the birth of New Zealand Muslim Youth and Sports Association and an addition to the list of registered Muslim associations with the Register of Incorporated Societies.
My memories takes me back to 1993 Champion of Champions (CoC) tournament hosted by Auckland Muslim Soccer Boys (AMSB), or the Papatoetoe team. This competition was popular and always attracted good turnouts.
We had casually discussed the formation of a Muslim sports association in New Zealand on many occasions but nothing eventuated for sometime. However it had to happen and the real breakthrough came when Br Sheik Asad Ali of Avonadale approached Br Sher Jawan and me during the CoC tournament and said in the language that is best spoken and understood by Indo Fijians, “Aapan to banae liya ham log ke kab bani”. Meaning AMSB and NZ Fiji AFC had already been incorporated and when would a registered organisation for Muslim Sports be formed. Call it envy or a compliment, his intentions must have been pure as I still remember Br Sher Jawan confiding with me on the issue on the same day. We immediately decided it was time to move.
We were in recess waiting for the CoC finals and I distinctly remember when I went on the PA and summoned brothers Farouk Khan, Shafiq Sahib, Ricky Kalam, Hazrat Ali, Sher Jawan, Sheik Asad Ali, Nasif Mohammed, Imtiaz Ali, Nur Ahmad, Mohammed Aiyub (Lalla) now in Melbourne and Mohammed Taiyab to the Control Room. On this day we only had some preliminary discussions and decided to meet at Br Farouk’s Mt Wellington home the following Wednesday.
The Wednesday meeting gave us a wealth of hope. We were confident that day was not far when we would have a Muslim Sports Association in New Zealand. We formed an interim committee comprising of Brothers Farouk Khan as President, Azeem as Secretary, and Nasif as Treasurer. Other members formed were appointed part of the working committee. Few other members were also co-opted in the team. They included brothers Faiyaz Khan JP, Abdul Saheed and Ibrahim (now in Australia). It was exciting; we were on a mission looking at Constitutions, talking to community elders and holding progress meetings in masajids, centres and members’ lounges and garages.
Alhamdollilah, we had the support of the community and one person who guided us most was Marhoom Abdul Raheem Rasheed a keen soccer personality with special interest in youth activities. While we were contemplating on sports only, he suggested we include ‘youth’ in the name of the organisation as well. After much thought and discussions we agreed to reserve the name, New Muslim Youth & Sports Association with the Registrar of Incorporated Societies. This was immediately accepted. Another personality who worked tirelessly with the Committee was Marhoom Lateef Shah a well known soccer administrator and Life Member of Fiji Football Association (FFA). As a sitting member of Federation of Islamic Associations (FIANZ) then, he provided us with much anticipated guidance and support. He was instrumental in building our network with FIANZ and secure their support as well.
At that stage the only stumbling block between us and the Registrar’s office was a Constitution. Fortunately we had copy of the Constitution of Fiji Muslims Sports Association and we knew it could work here. Based on this document, we tailor made a Constitution for our purpose. It involved hours of hard work, late nights, meetings and mashwaras. But it all paid off and in June 1994 the New Zealand Muslim Youth and Sports Association was formally incorporated. A milestone for New Zealand Muslims and a sigh of relief for the Interim Committee.
Following the inception an inaugural meeting was called and members of the Interim Committee were officially elected as the first office bearers of the Association. They included:
President: Br Farouk Khan
Secretary: Br Mohammed Azeem
Treasurer: Br Nasif Mohammed (now in Sydney)
Committee members: Brs. Shafiq Sahib, Mohammed Kalam (Ricky), Hazrat Ali, Nur Ahmad (Noa), Imtiaz Ali, Mohammed Taiyab, Sher Jawan, Mohammed Aiyub (Lalla – now in Melborne), Sheik Asad, Abdul Saheed and Faiyaz Khan JP.
The Association has been in existence since then but has been renamed as New Zealand Muslim Sports Association. Since its inception it has organised many tournaments and hosted some events like FANCA and participated in tournaments in New Zealand and abroad with successful results.
In its nineteenth year, it is time to analyse and evaluate the activities of the Association and set some goals for the Silver Jubilee in 2019/2020. It is also time to attract more sports within its frame work and work closely other sports organisation in New Zealand. And above all it is time to remind all officials and players our obligation to deen ul Islam and the importance da’wah
Wassalam
