Chapeltown Juniors FC’s new Vice-Chairman Nazem Salim is looking beyond football in order to assist a successful structure to help build the club.
CFYDC Founder and Chapeltown Juniors’ club secretary Will Bowler will be supported by Naz, who also moves into the assistant club secretary position, in his new roles within the football club.
“There’s roughly around 500 kids getting out and doing something at Chapeltown Juniors,” stated Naz.
“I feel privileged to be offered this role and with the help of my colleagues, Will & Lutel, Brendan & Arad and all the coaches and staff, I’m looking to create the right structure and to continue to help the club, it’s players, coaches and parents.
“Chapeltown is a big family club and a tight community and we connect through that”.
With 4 children himself, Chapeltown Juniors felt like ‘home’ for his eldest son Musa when he entered The Prince Philip centre aged 6.
“My eldest son started football at five. I brought him to Chapeltown when he was six and immediately it felt like home,” reminisced Naz.
“I started helping the coaches, collecting subs, sponsoring kits and offering support in anyway. I began helping Raf and Jake at the time with the u6s, then built a relationship with Will & Lutel. A year and a half ago, Raf invited me as an admin for the u7s and it reignited everything I used to do as a kid”.
Naz’s successful season with the u8s this past year has cemented his plans for his new role within club for the upcoming campaign.
Naz supported u8s’ manager Rafael Da Silva to lead their side to a Garforth Junior Football League U8 Sole’s Champions League cup title during 22/23.
“For parents it might be a social thing. We hold training sessions with participating kids who aren’t yet playing in a team, then we’ve created a team for them this coming season. Expanding the number of teams is one strategy,” outlined Naz.
“But sometimes kids can’t get here so how can we help this?”
“Thanks to Will & Lutel, we acted swiftly last season on the amount of games that were getting postponed. We have secured the 3g facility at Trinity Academy Leeds as well as the multi-weather facility at Dixons Trinity”.
There’s a tactic to support coaches, also, supported by CFYDC’s provision of funding managers’ FA coaching badges, safeguarding courses and DBS checks.
“Raf is the u8s’ group manager, myself as the assistant group manager and Charlie has been brought in as team manager for the sole team,” listed Naz.
“That’s the structure we’re trying to put in place. Then myself and others will oversee the whole club to support”.
Naz has been self-employed for 18 years, building profitable businesses in telecommunication as well as working with properties.
“Since 2004, I’ll set up a food business, from getting the keys to doing the shop fit work, contract it. Then make sure that business is successful and then find a buyer. The buyer then takes over something that provides money from day one”, said Naz.
His charity work continues even away from the Prince Philip Centre.
Naz’s Muslim faith leads him to follow the pillar of Zakat, meaning charity.
“Charity is one of the pillars of my faith, to try to help people in need, less fortunate, by either donating or raising funds or getting them aid,” explained Naz.
“The charity’s I help vary, including Muslim relief, Marie Curie hospice as well as the food bank held at The Prince Philip Centre.
“Our belief is that if you help someone, God will help you”.
Pre-season is pushing Naz’s immediate work to include sourcing tournaments for the teams of Chapeltown Juniors FC.
To attend sessions held by Chapeltown Juniors, contact either Arad Ostovari (U4-U11): 07743225756 or Brendon Chitembwe (U12-U16): 07846817878.
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