14 ‘Hometown Heroes’ have been unveiled by Birmingham 2022 ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games in a campaign celebrating and recognising the diversity of the of the UK’s second city and the wider West Midlands.
Made up of coaches, managers, umpires and fundraisers, who have dedicated their lives to grassroots sport in the region, each ‘Hometown Hero’ will be profiled on the Birmingham 2022’s website and social media platforms and will receive a special glass award to mark their achievement.
Amongst those chosen is boxing coach Haseebah Abdullah, who coaches at Windmill Boxing Gym in Smethwick, who was chosen for developing female participation in the sport. is honoured for developing female participation in the sport, having also played a huge role in changing official dress code rules to allow women to wear a headscarf and full-length clothing.
Also honoured are Naseem Akhtar, who has spent more than 20 years encouraging thousands of women in inner city Birmingham to transform their lives through physical activity.
Having played a huge role in changing official dress code rules to allow women to wear a headscarf and full-length clothing, she set-up The Young Sahelis, a club for girls aged 14 to 25, as well as the Saheli running and cycling clubs.
“It feels absolutely amazing to have been selected as a Hometown Hero,” she said, “My aim has always been to provide a service, a home, a safe haven and a platform for equality in my sport and community.”
Kevin Dillon is head coach at Lions Amateur Boxing Club in Brierley Hill. He is recognised for his work despite being visually-impaired having contracted meningitis as a child.
He launched a podcast called ‘Black Country Blokes’, which covers the struggles and successes that men experience, with topics such as mental and physical health, fitness, work and family life, aiming to remove the stigma around taboo subjects.
Birmingham 2022 chief executive Ian Reid said: “I'm in awe of our 14 Hometown Heroes.
“Their generosity to their club, whether that's giving up their time or just being a listening ear, is inspiring. Shining the spotlight on these devoted individuals will no doubt encourage participation in sport and physical activity across the West Midlands.”
The other Hometown Heroes include: Salma Bi (coach, umpire and fundraiser, and director of Sporting Pathways, Birmingham), Jeevan Chagger (chairman, coach and umpire at City of Birmingham Hockey Club), Ricardo D’Alva (coach at City of Birmingham Rockets Basketball Club), Kirsty Davie (team manager and coach at Birmingham Moseley Women’s RFC), Dave Heeley (runner and charity fundraiser, West Bromwich), Joan Hunter (coach at University of Birmingham Netball Club), Steve Mroso (coach and team manager at Team Birmingham Elite Basketball Club), Yasmin Nessa (co-founder of Saltley Stallions Women’s Football Club), Kevin Redmond (coach at Solihull Moors FC Ability Counts), Sarah Scanlon (umpire at Ernesford Grange Netball Club, Coventry) and Ranjit Singh (coach at Wolverhampton Wrestling Club).
