Photos courtesy: Huzaifa Hunaid
The Dawoodi Bohras of Malindi hosted a two-day volleyball tournament in mid-October at the newly inaugurated Qutbi Sports Complex, uniting East African communities over fun and competition.
Teams from Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, Nakuru, Tanga, Morogoro, and Arusha gathered in the coastal town to mark the birthday celebrations of His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the community’s leader.
“What better way to celebrate His Holiness’s birthday than to put into practice one of his core teachings — to remain physically active,” said community member Huzaifa Hunaid.
Despite Malindi’s modest Dawoodi Bohra population, hosting this tournament filled the local community with pride. “It was inspiring to see how our small team managed to organise such a major event,” shared a local member. The positive energy on and off the court delivered the true purpose of the gathering — forging new bonds and strengthening old ones.
Spectators from the wider community joined the celebration. “The local crowd usually turns up for football, but this volleyball event brought a refreshing wave of enthusiasm to town,” said one visitor.
Community members lined the venue with food stalls, offering a selection of scrumptious treats that added a festive spirit to the event. For many, the tournament became a memorable experience, as teams lingered well past the final match to exchange greetings and contact information.
Encouraged by the success of this inaugural event, Qutbi Sports Club organisers plan to build on the momentum by hosting a football tournament in the near future and continuing to promote sportsmanship and unity among East African communities.