Celebrities take part in football tournament in memory of Grenfell Tower victims

Football has been a powerful healing force for families bereaved by the Grenfell Tower tragedy, players at a memorial tournament said.

Queens Park Rangers are hosting the Grenfell Memorial Cup at their Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium in Shepherds Bush, west London, to remember the blaze’s 72 victims.

Celebrities including rapper AJ Tracey, Bafta-winning TV personality and rapper Big Zulu and comedian Mo Gilligan are among those playing, organisers said.

Co-organiser Karim Mussilhy, whose uncle Hesham Rahman died in the fire, told the PA news agency that events like the tournament help grieving families to keep “fighting for justice” –  despite feeling like nothing has changed for them in almost five years.

Mr Mussilhy, who is part of campaign group Grenfell United, said families still do not have closure because no one has been held accountable for the tragedy.

He told PA: “Football has always been a massive part of our community.

“For me personally, I grew up playing football in the area; I still play football in the area.

“Football is such a huge part of where we live and our lives, and it’s just incredible to be able to bring it together over something so horrific (and) to be able to celebrate the lives rather than mourning them all the time.

“When you come here and you’re on the pitch with your teammates, for those 90 minutes everything else doesn’t matter – just the bonding and the unity that you have with your teammates on the pitch and it’s just such a magical feeling.”

Mr Mussilhy, a lifelong QPR fan, said playing at the Championship side’s stadium is a “dream come true”

Speaking about his uncle, he said: “I fell in love with football because of him, so to be here today and to celebrate him, it’s quite special.

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