More than 100 young footballers gathered in Watford yesterday to compete in a friendly youth football tournament and remember an old friend.

Twelve squads and many more spectators met at the Westfield Community Sports Centre for the second annual Ali Naqi Memorial Tournament – with teams travelling from all over the county to take part.

Ali Naqi Shah, 20, a popular youth worker, collapsed and died in March 2006 while playing football at the site.
The tournament’s organisers said the event, for 13 to 21-year-olds, was a fitting tribute to a very popular young man.

Azhar Shah, of the al-Zahara Youth Boys Committee, said: “The tournament has been a fantastic success. This year we doubled the number of teams from six to 12 which shows how popular it is.

“Ali was my nephew as well as being a very close friend. He was a very enthusiastic young man who loved working with young people and always enjoyed playing sport.

“I think he would be very proud if he was here today and to see these boys enjoying themselves so much.

“We hope the tournament will continue to grow every year.”

12:27pm Sunday 16th August 2009

Sports