Champions enjoy tour of Tower Hamlets

Osmaninagar celebrated their triumph in the Greater Sylhet Upazila Cup in style as squad members, officials, volunteers and representatives from other Upazila teams joined the 2015 and 2016 champions on an open top bus tour of Tower Hamlets.

The tour commenced at Regents Lake, Mile End and took in Stepney, Poplar, Limehouse, Wapping, Shadwell, Whitechapel, Brick Lane, Shoreditch and Bethnal Green, with stops made outside the shopfronts of sponsors E1 Discount Store, Mas Bazar and Rahim’s.

The two-time winners proved popular along the route with the general public cheering, applauding and taking pictures.

Captain Repon Chowdhury said: “I have played football for decades and won so much silverware, but this is an altogether different kind of special.”

Bangladeshi midfielder Rashid Ali added: “I have won every trophy at this level, but this ranks with the greatest moments of my career.”

Osmaninagar manager Mamun Chowdhury thanked those who had supported his team, adding: “Our volunteers, sponsors and fans have played just as great a part in this fairytale as our players. They are the backbone of our team and I hope they enjoyed this open top bus tour.”

The tour ended at Regents Lake, where a banquet dinner was hosted by Rashid Ali and volunteers were presented with awards of appreciation by Tower Hamlets speaker Khales Ahmed.

Tower Hamlets Councillor Asma Begum, lead member for Leisure, congratulated the team along with Cllr Shahed Ali, who is from Balagonj, and former council leader Helal Abbas.

Abu Mumin of Sylhet Aid and Eden Care spoke of how Sonali Othith was reconnecting people with their roots and informed guests of the vital aid provided by the charity to needy people in Sylhet, be it a sewing machine, wheelchair or a blanket.

The team received trophies and a special tribute and achievement award was presented to Shazzadur Rahman, one of the UK’s greatest Bangladeshi players.

There was a lighthearted and entertaining conclusion when Ali presented a comical Upazila awards segment, which saw best banner go to Jagannathpur, best result to Derai for beating Bishwanath 1-0 and most dramatic game of the tournament named as the Jagannathpur v Beanibazar quarter final.

*The Greater Sylhet Cup is an initiative of Sonali Othith (golden past), which is at the forefront of promoting football for the over-35s in the community and inspiring a healthy lifestyle amongst its participants.

For more information see sonaliothith.org.