An estimated 1.5 billion people around the globe tuned into television sets and various other devices for the recent World Cup Final from Qatar between Argentina and France.
And with the World Cup Final coinciding with the first day of the school holidays in Sydney, the Lebanese Muslim Association decided to do something a bit different for the kids.
The LMA has always had a huge focus on our youth, who of course are the future of our community, and the organisation’s Lakemba Mosque Youth initiative does a fantastic job in facilitating activities for young people throughout the year.
Hence the programming of a FIFA World Cup Final Night event for boys aged 15 years or older and held overnight in the newly refurbished underground area of Lakemba Mosque.
A massive gathering of teenage boys and a sprinkling of dads enjoyed a packed 10-hour program featuring some highly entertaining guest speakers; a FIFA 23 video game tournament; amazing Broaster Chicken dinners and of course, the World Cup Final live from Lusail (just north of Doha) on two giant TV screens.
These major highlights were supplemented by other activities including some ‘scratch’ futsal games, table tennis, and regular visits by the teens to the slushie, popcorn and fairy floss machines….well, it is school holidays after all!
The atmosphere during the World Cup Final itself was tremendous with almost raucous cheering from the boys for both teams.
Of course, nothing beats the mood and feeling of being around Australia’s most famous mosque – Masjid Ali Bin Abi Talib – and the downstairs program, which ‘kicked off ‘after Magreb prayers, was appropriately suspended for the gathering to move upstairs for both Isha and Fajr.
Earlier in the night, special guest speakers Sheikh Rameh Zaoud and the world renown ‘Diet Doctor’ Moodi Dennaoui kept the young audience captivated.
Both Moodi and Sheikh Rameh are wonderful friends of the LMA and Lakemba Mosque Youth and their support is always greatly appreciated.
The LMA also wishes to acknowledge the fantastic support of event sponsors Broaster Chicken Australia; Burgers On Broadway Regents Park and Meals By Moodi, as well as the many volunteers and helpers including Salim Allouche and Mahmoud Sabaayon, who made the journey from Othman Bin Affan Mosque at Cabramatta to assist.
FIFA World Cup Final night was the LMA’s third major event in the space of seven weeks, following on from the success of National Mosque Open Day at Lakemba Mosque and the LMA Career Expo – and was also held just 24 hours after around 500 guests attended the organisation’s Arabic Speaking Colleges Graduation Ceremony.
To say the least, it has been an exceptionally busy – and very successful – year for the LMA, which also in 2022 acquired complexes at Bankstown and Greenacre that will both be used to assist and care for the most vulnerable in our community.
Also in 2022, the LMA board of directors signed off on a major upgrade for Lakemba Mosque and its grounds as well as the LMA Islamic Funeral Services and the LMA services building.
The infrastructure repairs and upgrades are needed to support the capacity and delivery of the LMA’s services to the Muslim and broader community.
The year of 2022 saw the LMA celebrate its 60th anniversary after being founded back in 1962 and with the New Year now upon us, there is every reason to believe that 2023 will be the most exciting – and the busiest – year in the Association’s long history.
As per my prediction, Argentina will win the World Cup in Qatar. I think Messi has already won everything now.