The football club giving an Arab community in Cardiff reasons to cheer

Community. A word that means different things for different people.

And, in the capital of Wales, there is a football club working to change the lives of one predominately Arab and Muslim community.

To the south of Cardiff’s center, before the city hits the sea, lies Butetown. Geographically it’s one community, in reality, it’s two: Cardiff Bay and Butetown.

Cardiff Bay has been gentrified, made up of new apartments and manicured gardens, while Butetown has been beaten down, squeezed and neglected. A rail line from the city center physically dissects these two communities.

Before its refurbishment, Cardiff Bay was known as the Docks or Tiger Bay.

A legacy of the docks is the Somali population in the city. Britain’s colonial presence in Somaliland meant sailors could work and live in the UK, and there was employment available in the docks, and later in the steel industry.

Many stayed, some had families in Wales, while others brought their families over when civil war broke out in Somalia.

The community is tight-knit, and out of it grew a football team, Cardiff Bay Warriors.

The melting pot of nationalities means Cardiff is home to an eclectic range of eateries, and some very popular Arabic restaurants.

In Hardramowt restaurant, Ahmed Noor, Warriors manager and the glue that holds the team together alongside secretary Ali Abdi, sits down to explain the ethos of the club.

We are also joined by team captain Mohamed Abdulla. He perfectly illustrates the heart of the club by modestly explaining that while he gets offers to play for teams in leagues above the Warriors, he would prefer to play for his community.

Noor stresses the importance of this loyalty.

“Cardiff Bay Warriors emerged from the community,” he said.