New football club, Tusaale United, have begun their first season in Sheffield’s amateur leagues.
Started by a group of young Somali men, the club already has three age ranges competing across the city. Their under 15s team are second from the top and the under 18s are holding their own in the premier division. The club also has an 18- 21 team and holds sessions for 12–16 years old on Saturdays at Petre Street.
The Messenger spoke to Mustafa Juma, coach for the over 18s team,
“The club is run by volunteers, we all used to play together for a team. We wanted to get the younger kids together from different areas, to help them get on with each other. The players come from across the city, areas like Darnall, Broomhall, Upperthorpe, Sharrow as well as Burngreave, and from different ethnic backgrounds. The team gives them the chance to play together and this is good for our community.”
The great need for the project was demonstrated when they held their trials in the summer, Mustafa said,
“300 young people turned up to try out for the teams! All three teams are full, but we are looking to set up under-11s and 12s next season.”
The teams rely entirely on donations and volunteer time. One of the big costs is the kit, and the teams are looking for sponsors,
“Our under-15s team got their kit from a Yemeni team, the High Flyers, who had stopped playing. A new kit costs more than £300, we are hoping to get sponsorship from local businesses or organisations.”
If you would like to sponsor the team, or to find out more, contact Mustafa Jama on 07412 606 471.