Abdi's A-List eye up Your Game 2009

Abdi's A-List made it to the semi-finals of the national final in Birmingham

By Shafi Said

Despite Nabiil Sheikh-Yusuf and Mohamed Aidara's mesmerising display of skill in the final Your Game tournament in London, it was Kasim Aidara's final touch that secured a place for Abdi's A-List on the coach to Birmingham for the Your Game 2008 final.

And so jubilantly the team from south east London embarked on the coach to Birmingham, hopeful of another great feat ahead.

On the coach, however, they discussed neither tactics nor plans for their following matches, but sat silently slouched, perhaps reflecting at their fortuitous appearance in Your Game.

Abdiqani Omar, the manager of the team and goalkeeper, only managed to assemble his team of players on the morning of the London festival.

But that did not stop them taking full advantage and they went home impressed by the event held near Russell Square.

Omar said: "It was a beautiful get together and a great way to mix with people from different communities that we normally wouldn't have met."

"BBC Your Game has many great opportunities for young talent to be scouted," said Abdiqani 'Bunne' Mohamed stood beside him.

Abdi's A-List celebrate victory in London

That chance came to pass as Sheikh-Yusuf's skills did not go unnoticed at the final at St Andrew's.

Marvelled by his sprightly action and exceptional agility in Birmingham, the youngster was approached by a representative of Derby County for trials.

"He took my name, age, address and phone number and said he will call me when the pre-season starts," he recalls.

The day started equally as buoyantly for the team as they sprang into action from the long journey's torpidity.

Winning their group with ease, they cruised effortlessly through the quarter-finals and landed comfortably in the semis. But with England's finest teams battling for the top position, it is there that things became more difficult.

Centrespot FC were the opponents, Fair Play winners from Birmingham, and while both teams desperately battled for an opportunity to go through to the final, it was the Londoners who dominated most of the match.

Near misses from Ahmed Ibrahim, Mohamed Aidara and 'Bunne', cost Abdi's team and with the game ending goalless, penalties were on the cards.

Abdiqani 'Bunne' Mohamed in action in London

Unfortunately Centrespot FC were more accurate from the spot and were declared the winners, going on to be crowned eventual champions.

Like the rest of his team-mates, however, goalkeeper Omar was not at all disappointed at having lost.

"When we made the team we never expected to win the London tournaments and certainly never expected to reach the semi- finals in Birmingham," he said. "So it wasn't that bad considering there were many good teams here."

"Even after we lost the game everyone came to [congratulate] us. We had a lot of support from the crowds," observed Sheikh-Yusuf who had more reason to smile than most.

Asked what impressions they left with from Your Game festival, Bunne summed it up by saying: "This is the first time we've heard of it and participated and it surely won't be the last time. It also opened several opportunities for us such as funding opportunities."

This feeling of delight was echoed by all the team members, particularly the manager, Omar, who assured me: "You certainly will hear of us again and again and again - until we are crowned national champions, God willingly."

And when I asked the team what their future hopes were, they were all equally unanimous in their answer: to win the national final next year!