Interfaith soccer at Herzlia scores plenty goodwill

TRACY KLASS PHOTOGRAPH BY GUY LERNER

Last week Sunday saw United Herzlia Schools host the fourth year of the Interfaith Football Tournament. The tournament was started in 2012 by Liam Shirley who at the time was coaching at both Herzlia and Islamia and felt there was a need to bring these two communities together through his passion for football.

This year, for the first time a Christian School, Bishops Diocesen College was added to make the tournament a truly interfaith affair.

Also this year, in honour of fellow Herzlia and Bishops learner Rohan Bloom, who passed away following a long battle with cancer, it was renamed The Rohan Bloom Interfaith Football Cup.

The day was opened with prayers from a representative from each religion: Jewish (Rabbi Cannon and Shimpa Moch); Muslim (Sheik Sadullah Kahn) and Christian (Youth Pastor Justin Wools).

The Junior cup (under-12 and under-14) was won by Herzlia after beating their opponents Islamia in the final, 6-0 and 5-0

The Senior cup (under-15 and under-19) was a much tighter affair with Herzlia coming out on top with a narrow points margin over Islamia and Bishops.