The Western Bulldogs’ MUJU girls’ team took the honours in the 2013 Unity Cup on the weekend, defeating North Melbourne’s representative team at JJ Holland Park, as part of the nationwide competition.
This year was the first time that two women’s teams were included in the day – making the victory all the more special.
In another great outcome for the Club, the Western Bulldogs MUJU boys squad finished in third place – after winning the Cup in 2012.
Despite limited preparation, with only two training sessions at Whitten Oval, the girls adapted to the new sport quickly and displayed some impressive passages of end to end team work and individual skill.
The MUJU girls team was mentored by the Altona Football Club’s VWFL (women’s) team in the lead up to the competition, which eventually saw them comfortably defeat North Melbourne four goals to one.
The event highlighted more than just win-loss ratios - celebrating cultural diversity through participants’ mutual love of football, with the competition played in a typically fierce fashion with skill and athleticism on display.
A large number of cultures were represented on Sunday including youth from the Muslim, Jewish, African, Indigenous, Asian and Middle Eastern communities, competing in a round robin AFL 9’s Football tournament.
Two members of the joint Israeli-Palestinian Peace Team - who were the initial inspiration of the MUJU joint Muslim and Jewish youth team - also made a cameo for the boys’ squad.
GWS were eventually named the premiers in the boys’ division, while the Bombers All Stars squad were deemed runners up.
Last fortnight the Bombers All Stars took out state honours, with the MUJU boys squad ranking second in the new format that saw teams forced to qualify in the state division before progressing through to the nationwide competition.
The Western Bulldogs second representative team the Newport Islamic Society placed third at state level.
Western Bulldogs would like to thank the boys and girls from the MUJU team, especially team captains Joel Kuperholz and Oussama Abou-Zeid along with Newport Islamic Society, Altona North and Werribee Police, Leading Senior Constable Scott Sutton, Sharon Kuperholz and Altona Football Club for their dedication and commitment to the MUJU Peace Club.
