An Aberdeen-based Islamic charity has successfully turned a derelict area into a modern football center to provide improved facilities for athletes across the region.
“We’re really excited to be part of this fantastic collaboration between ourselves and the Foundation,” Humza Malik, director of 5ives Football Center and project team manager, told Evening Express.
“Football is a great way of bringing the community together – now more so than ever – and we can’t wait to welcome people on to the pitches.
“This new facility will allow Aberdeen to nurture future talents and enable them to have the right facilities to progress,” he added.
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Aberdeen-based charity the Alhikmah Foundation, part of the Masjid Alhikmah mosque, developed 5ives Football Center on Nelson Street after winning a bid to transform a derelict area into a modern football center.
The new city center facility will offer the community access to five, five-a-side football pitches and two seven-a-side football pitches.
Alhikmah Foundation Trustee, Aqeel Ajazi and Farooq Durrani Director of 5ives Football Center. 
Huge Support
Foundation trustee, Aqeel Ajazi, said the new project has received support from the whole community.
“We’ve had an incredible amount of support for this development since day one so to be finally opening our doors, having achieved exactly what we set out to, is a fantastic moment,” Ajazi said.
“It’s been a long and winding road, but we got here, with the support of our partners 5ives and the community, and we’re incredibly proud of what’s been created for the Aberdeen community at a time when sadly so many other projects have had to put the brakes on due to the impact of the pandemic – it’s a great accomplishment for every individual who has been part of the process.
“As we all know outdoor sports are going to be in high demand in the coming months so the timing for the complex opening couldn’t be better. Thanks to the central location – close to both the college and universities – we expect the pitches to be extremely popular with young and old, and a mix of individuals and club bookings.
Most Muslims in Scotland are members of families that migrated in the latter decades of the 20th century.
According to the 2011 census, Muslims population is around 76,737 persons, almost 1.4% of Scotland’s population.
Muslims in Scotland are an ethnically diverse population. Although a majority of Muslims are of Pakistani (58%) origin, 16.8% are Africans and Middle Eastern, while 7.8% are White Europeans.