by Yusuf M Adamjee
In Mombasa, sports and related outdoor activities are taken seriously and many members of the community take a lot of interest in playing sports. These activities are not only confined to youngsters but seniors also take part, even if its just walking around the field.
Here in Mombasa, the community has its own sports complex - the Burhani Sports Club. Since those early pioneering days, the club has come a long way in its development. Starting with a small club house, today its boasts a modern complex which houses the badminton and squash courts. It also has a full grass covered playing field of approximately 2 hectares. The field is used as a dual purpose ground as both soccer and cricket is played on it. A small sand covered volleyball pitch is the latest inclusion and it is situated at one end of the main playing field.
The club is open throughout the week with the exception of Thursdays. Soccer practice or matches are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays during the evenings. The soccer team achieved a lot as it has reached the regional Bohra Sports Festival’s soccer finals numerous times since its inception in 1989 and were the champions in 1994 when the festival was held in Nairobi, Kenya.
Cricket runs in the blood of each and every member of the community and it is no surprise to see hordes of supporters thronging the cricket field every weekend to cheer their favourites. The club’s cricket team has an excellent record both in the provincial league and in regional Bohra sports festivals as they have been the league and regional champions several times. Cricket practices are held on Tuesday and Friday evenings. A lot of emphasis is now put on youth cricket and the club has formed its youth cricket club which made its debut in the provincial league this year.
The indoor games are played anytime during the day as long as members have made their bookings to use the facilities. Squash, badminton and snooker are played mostly after maghrib prayers. Volleyball also take centre stage after prayers as it is more convenient to play in the cool breeze of the night than to play in the heat of the day-time.
One of the liveliest month at the club is the holy month of Ramadhan, as during the evenings, after prayers, club members come to play various games ranging from darts to soccer which is played under flood-lights. The club is open till late night as members square out with each other in their respective games while others not interested in playing come to socialise with their friends and chat about the day which just passed or any other event making headlines in the town.
Apart from the sports, the club is also used by the community to hold functions like the exhibitions and fun-fairs held during the commemoration of salgirah of Aqa Moula (TUS). During the Idd ul-Adha festivities, the Jamaat has been for the past two years using the grounds for zabiyat and later related programs are held there.
The club grounds received doas and showers of praise from Aqa Moula (TUS) when the grounds of the club were used as al-Mawaeed during the two famous Asharas performed by Aqa Moula (TUS) in Mombasa in a space of two years i.e. 1414h and 1416h. The grounds served nearly 15,000 mumineen during each Ashara with Niyaz under very beautifully created grass thatched covered structure.