Northern Ireland’s first football team of South Asian women team up with PSNI

A significant milestone has been marked with the first-ever Women's Friendly football match between police in South Belfast and the Belfast Asian Women’s Academy (BAWA).

The tournament was proudly sponsored by South Belfast Policing Team, demonstrating their commitment to community integration and support for women's sports.

The ladies from BAWA, which promotes South Asian culture and heritage in Northern Ireland, have recently embarked on their journey in football, and this friendly match served as an invaluable opportunity for them to learn the game in a welcoming environment.

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Many of the team members had not played football before and have been taking up the sport as beginners. By participating in these matches, members of BAWA are not only developing their football skills but also fostering important connections within the local community and building confidence in their interactions with local policing.

Inspired by the recent NI Confederation Cup, organised by Ethnic Minority Sports Organisation NI, BAWA formed a football team for the very first time.

Ana Chandran, who moved to Belfast from Malaysia, is the team’s manager and founder and director of projects for BAWA: "I am delighted to see team BAWA advancing in football, and we have some fantastic plans in the future.

"Many of the players were new to the sport, yet their passion and excitement to continue playing have been heartening. We have been training since the summer, and I see significant progression and potential in many of our girls and ladies."

Ana extended her gratitude to Superintendent Finola Dornan and South Belfast Police for their unwavering support of this initiative: "Programmes like these help new communities build trust and confidence with policing. Our members found all the policewomen to be friendly and approachable.

"We are really proud of our growing relationship with Belfast Asian Women’s Academy and of their new football team. By connecting women in the police with women in our community, we are breaking down barriers and building trusting relationships.

"Our footballers came together in their own time from roles across the Police Service for our first friendly with BAWA. We look forward to any future sporting activity that BAWA may wish to challenge us to!

"This event not only showcased the talent and dedication of women in football but also highlighted the importance of community partnerships in promoting inclusivity and support for underrepresented groups in sports."

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