Academy Of Champions

14/06/2026

Our 2026 Tournament Information Pack is here!

DM to receive

Thank you to Sham Shamroz Altaf

What's covered?...

- The Reality
- The Cause
- Ummah Welfare Trust's Efforts
- Tournaments Aims and History
- Our Reigning Champions
- Honouring a Legend Shah Abdul Goni Sarker

Thank you for all your support G Donations are welcome and can be made at 👇🏽

https://campaigns.givebrite.com/gazacup2026

13/06/2026

3 weeks to go! ....

We're edging closer to our 18th Annual 'Cup of Champions' 6 a Side Football Tournament 🇵🇸🏆⚽

❗Sunday 5th of July 2026 - 11am to 6pm. B98 7HH (Woodfield Academy)

Let's reflect on some memorable performances from some outstanding goalkeepers over the years....

From John McDonald's 2010 brilliance, where he recovered so brilliantly in that epic final for his Worcester Allstars team, to Sully Mota's 2011 masterful performance - a tournament which kickstarted a run of 16 matches without conceding in between 2011-2012.

It's near impossible to forget the 2013 performance on Mohammed Abbas - a performance which would secure Sparkhill United their first CofC Trophy in brilliant fashion as Abbas held firm in front of an RWB onslaught. 🏆

Sully Mota's 16 match clean sheet record would later be matched by Leeds' and Bacca FC giant Naz Hussain between 2014 and 2015. Where Bacca would become the first team to win back to back trophies at our event, Naz produced big saves throughout and in the final's penalty shootout in 2015. 🥅

And then the legendary Sabial Hanif performance in 2017, which included 2 shoot out victories in SU's run to the final in our co-hosted Extra Time Tournament.

More recently - 2022, Haseen Bashir's heroics would see the brilliant Bashalona become the fourth team to win our trophy at their first attempt - despite finishing as 14/16 in qualification for the top 16. An amazing victory in what was, for many, our finest tournament to date - and a victory which would begin Bashalona's recent dominance. 🏆🏆🏆

Then of course, there was 2025 - Big would be awarded GOTT after a giant performance for .fc . The tournament great produced huge moments in two highly charged shootouts as Pathetico made their way to our Semi-Final in great fashion, in their first entry to our event. 🔥

(We are considering expanding our tournament to 24 teams, if your team is keen to get involved and support 🇵🇸 - get in touch

11/06/2026

Alhamdulilah, as expected - a brilliant discussion with the Rahma Sports Relief team in our third Episode of the 'The Build Up'🔥

Ahead of our 18th Annual 'Cup of Champions' Tournament - on Sunday 5th of July, In Shaa Allah. 🇵🇸🏆⚽

Looking back at the foundations of our friendship which has grown to vital collaboration and introductions from each other to key people in the community sports, football world & business!

Remembering the brilliant RWB roots - who from 2000-2016 brought this tournament some brilliant footballing memories - a delight to watch and recognised by everyone for their silk & class, and for their tiki-taka football which destroyed so many.

A style of play which not only delivered 2 Trophies and 3 finals in 6 entries and two Semi Final's, but their striking ace Chris Brown still leads our Top Goal Scoring charts with 57 goals (playing for RWB - and on occasions, SU in 2017 & 2021). 🔥

Reminiscing on rivalries with Coventry, Sparkhill and at times, and in a lighter way, our own host team. Whom RWB would defeat in two brilliant semi-finals in those early years.

Then the amazing work of RSR and their 2026 £25k fundraising pledge for GRT - Global Relief Trust. Including Jubz' amazing efforts on deployment & Sam's amazing grounding into charity & community work.

A very big thank you to Funks, Jubz and Sam for making the trip to Redditch. With an extension to their amazing team who couldn't make it - so many West Brom lads we could name who are involved - doing inspirational things.

Not forgetting the brilliant efforts from our team here in Redditch to get this setup - Fize, Denaz & Isaam. From the room, to logistical support to the tech - can't do it without these gents.

This episode's hospitality was provided by the awesome guys at Pizza World (our footballing stalwart, Umar Khan & his family) and Mister A Bakes (Ayaan Nawaz) who have just opened their second branch in Stoke recently! 🔥🤝

/Pizza World Redditch 👌🏽🤝

09/06/2026

Thank you to Isa & Ash, owners of the Kickology Events brand for making the trip to Redditch yesterday to join in on our second episode of 'The Build Up'.

Ahead of our 18th Annual 'Cup of Champions' Tournament on Sunday 5th of July, now less than 4 weeks away! 🇵🇸🏆⚽

A really interesting and insightful conversation with two awesome guys doing great things, and the new generation of football events and tournament organisers. The drive and vision is clear, and most importantly - they take action, not just talk.

We want to congratulate them both and their wider team for all the success they have had in recent years, really making big moves!

Thank you to everyone who tuned in (especially blade! 👌🏽😂)

A massive thank you to both Isaam and Fize Khawaja for their amazing support with the technology in the background, and not forgetting...

redditch

For providing the hospitality for this one! 🥤🍟🍔

06/06/2026

Looking forward to Monday, Godwilling.

Our second episode in 'The Build Up' to our 18th Annual 'Cup of Champions' Tournament - A discussion with Isa and Ash, the awesome guys behind the brilliant Kickology brand.

They've delivered multiple leagues and tournaments in such a short space of time and engaged so many teams and, in our opinion (we're sure it's an opinion shared by many others too!), have a solid grasp of how to market community and competitive football for the current generation of footballer and football teams coming through. 📸📽️

It's going to be great to have them in Redditch on Monday, Godwilling. Discussing their aims, vision and impact and various other topics, and hopefully learning from them and sharing ideas.

And, we're really looking forward to hosting their tournament team on the 5th of July at our tournament- that's going to be amazing for us as organisers. 🔥

Thank you to both Ash & Isa for making the time to share their story and journey with us. Tune in to our YouTube channel on Monday from around 7.30pm Godwilling, to listen in live.

Then on Wednesday (10th), Godwilling, we will be joined by some more legends of Community Football:

Siraj Hussain (Birmingham United)

Zia Ahmed 🏆 & Omar Khan (Cov Athletic & Hillside FC)

Rayhan 'Funks' Miah 🏆🏆 & some his team hopefully! (RWB & Rahma Sports Relief)

02/06/2026

Alhamdulilah!

Thank you to everyone who tuned in and for the generous feedback, we appreciate it greatly.

Cup of Champions Tournament 2026 🎤
The Build-Up 🇵🇸⚽🏆

Episode 1 ✅

Sunday 5th of July 2026 - 11am to 6pm, 18th Annual Tournament.

Get in touch for more information around the tournament, to get involved/sponsor or get involved in one of our future episodes.

Jameel Hussain! 🤝 top work!

01/06/2026

Let’s go! 🎬 Week 1, Episode 1 is live. Hit that LIKE, SHARE with everyone, and smash that SUBSCRIBE button so you don’t miss a single episode!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

29/05/2026

Testing phase ahead of our 2026 Cup of Champions Tournament Build Up

Follow our YouTube channel where we will be going live with some great guests set to be involved, from this coming Monday (1st of June) - sharing their feedback, insight and opinions.

18 years of reflection. Alhamdulilah

Thank you to Fize and Isaam for all their hardwork - The techs behind the scenes.

Sunday 5th of July - 6 a Side Football Tournament - Raising funds for Ummah Welfare Trust's Gaza Emergency Appeal.

Get in touch to find out more or to get involved/donate

🇵🇸🏆⚽

26/05/2026

Cup of Champions 2026 - The Build Up

Reflecting on 18 years - The challenges of organising, the mistakes made, the development of the tournament across its 18 year history and those amazing footballing memories.

As many know, our 'Cup of Champions' Tournament is our signature sporting event. Alhamdulilah, with some amazing support - the tournament has helped raise over £150,000 for charity and engaged over 7000 participants to date - people of all backgrounds involved.

Football - the brilliant tool which has been used to unite people for Gaza and other amazing causes, building friendships and creating lasting impact, In Shaa Allah.

With tomorrow or the future not guaranteed, we want to try and reflect back on the history of the event with the involvement of some key figures throughout that journey. From fellow organisers, to winning managers and captains and other key individuals from the midlands grassroots scene.

We will be bringing them to Redditch to talk about their journey, their work and talking through their tournament memories and honest feedback and opinions - whilst also dialling in some highly influential and awesome people we have had the pleasure of meeting through this event, from across the UK.

Look out, you may get the call up 📞☎️🎙️

This is new to us, so bear with us! 👊🏽

Tune in on our YouTube channel to find out more, with the 1st of June being a curtain raiser with our own organising team from Redditch.

22/05/2026

Six weeks to go, Godwilling!

Sunday 5th of July - 18th Annual 'Cup of Champions' Tournament 🇵🇸🏆⚽

Here's our first visit down memory lane as we build up to our signature event. Look out for more to follow in the coming weeks! 🔥

Performing on our tournament's biggest stage - our showpiece final of course, is something we always respect and always try to make sure it is recognised.

From the brilliant shotstopping from the likes of Johnny McDonald and Mohammad Abbas to the five screamers Johnny Nolan scored against our own host team in the 2017 Final, to the brilliant performance of Abdul Chouchane, Hammad Ali, Jarro Scott and Dylan Drovi in recent years for their respective winning teams.

Every winner of this award is remembered for their memorable performance when it mattered most. 👌🏽🏆

Donations towards our fundraising pledge for Ummah Welfare Trust's Gaza Emergency Appeal 🇵🇸 can be made on the fundraising link, thank you for your support:

https://campaigns.givebrite.com/gazacup2026

Get in touch to find out more on how to get involved!

🇵🇸