DOZENS of young sportsmen from Bradford have taken part in an initiative to get more South Asians involved in the beautiful game.

The Altus League came to an end on Saturday with a final at St George’s Park. The league was set up to help get more people from South Asian communities involved in football, and has so far focused on Bradford and London. Over 70 young people, aged between 16 and 18-years-old, took part in the eight week-long project.

It ended with the final that saw the Bradford Bolts face off against the East London Lions. The London team was ultimately victorious, beating Bradford 2-0.

The pilot league is run by the Kashif Siddiqi Foundation. Mr Siddiqi is one of just 11 South Asians to have played at a professional level in the UK, having previously been on the books at Northampton Town and Arsenal.

Mr Siddiqi said: “Football has an extraordinary capacity to unite. Whatever our background, our race, our ability, football transcends borders, and it’s at grassroots level, where the formative years of many young people’s lives are spent, that this message is most important.

“The skills you pick up on the pitch are universal; discipline, communication skills, leadership and self-confidence are all so important.

“If we can provide this space for young South Asians to enjoy themselves, while acquiring tangible skills that they can use for the rest of their lives, then that’s a big win in my book.”