The Bulldogs’ MUJU Peace Club has claimed its second AFL Unity Cup title in three years, defeating Newport Islamic Society with a kick after the siren.
Trailing by one point in the dying stages of the grand final, MUJU’s forward, Mohamed Abdul Hamid, lined up for goal 40 metres out after pulling in a strong mark. Cool under pressure, Abdul Hamid kicked truly to confirm MUJU’s win.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Bulldogs’ second representative team, Newport, as it was the closest they had come to the Unity Cup title in seven attempts.
MUJU is a combined Muslim-Jewish football team inspired by the joint Israeli/Palestinian AFL Peace Team that was formed through a Peace Dialogue, held at Victoria University Whitten Oval as part of the Club’s Building Community Resilience program.
The Bulldogs were also represented by Mt Scopus College and a multi-faith western region team in the female division.
Mt Scopus finished runners-up to Werribee’s Mackillop College in their first Unity Cup, after going through the rounds undefeated.
The Bulldogs’ Australia Post AFL Multicultural Ambassador Lin Jong was on hand to launch the seventh annual Unity Cup, welcoming the 150 culturally and linguistically diverse young people participating in the annual tournament.
The Unity Cup celebrates diversity and involves male and female Victorian players from Muslim, Jewish, African, Indian, Pakistani and Indigenous communities competing in an AFL 9’s competition.
It is hosted by the Australian Federal Police and AFL Clubs – the Western Bulldogs, Essendon and North Melbourne.
