The club Abdul built: why Logan Roos represents more than football

 When sports fanatic, dad-of-3 and community advocate Abdul Samim Khan founded Logan Roos Football Club, he knew he’d have no trouble attracting talent. 

What he didn’t realise is that 6 years later he would have built a community and second home for hundreds of people – and be the recipient of a Community Safety Award (volunteer category) in 2021 as well as being named the City of Logan Volunteer of the Year earlier this year. 

Back in 2016, Abdul just wanted to create space for talented young sportspeople to play the beautiful game. 

‘I would walk around the community and see so much skill from young people, but they had no way to channel their energy and work on those skills,’ he says. 

‘This area has many people who are refugees and migrants from traumatic backgrounds. These kids had parents who left their homeland to better their life here, and so they have a lot going on in their lives. 

‘There may be trauma, homesickness, they may have lost loved ones, there might be a language barrier or financial issues. 

‘I thought – how can I help?’ 

He helped by forming Logan Roos.  

‘At the start, before we had a premises or an official club, I had a group of a dozen boys, which grew up to 60 boys who were playing twice a week until 10:30 at night, when I would then drop them all off at their homes,’ says Abdul.  

He still provides transport for players and their families now. 

Once Logan Roos gained premises and became official, the club grew quickly. 

The Woodridge-based club, now home to more than 200 members representing more than 30 nationalities, has senior and junior teams. It’s become a community hub, a place where strong friendships are formed and memories are made. 

‘Sport is a great rehab for children – it helps them release stress and become healthy. When you have healthy children, you have a healthy community,’  Abdul says.  

‘It is also a place where they build friendships – they just love it and I have seen parents cry, saying joining the club is the best thing that has happened for their child.’ 

Abdul says one of his greatest achievements was working with a young player who was a refugee with limited English and education. An excellent athlete, he loved coaching younger players and, after working for his Certificate 4 in Education, now works at a local school, as well as holding fitness workshops on weekends. 

‘Working with him and seeing that he is so happy and the school is so happy is one of the greatest achievements of my life,’ he says. 

‘He is such a great example to the younger kids.’ 

Another fond memory is when the Under-16 team won the grand final in 2019 and were treated by a club sponsor to an all-expenses paid trip to Melbourne for a soccer tournament. 

‘They were treated like kings – it is something they will remember forever,’ Abdul says. 

Making lifelong memories is something the club does well. 

‘Everyone in the club looks after each other. When the kids get sick, we go to visit, we celebrate together all the time,’ Abdul says. 

‘These are strong memories they will have forever. There are so many different cultures – but everyone respects each other, they offer support and friendship and comfort. 

‘I find that a lot in Logan – it is diverse and people are accommodating, they will accept differences in the culture and learn from each other. I learn from the members all the time: one of the biggest things I have learned is never ever to judge a person. You don’t know what that child or parent has been through.’ 

While sometimes the demands of club logistics, maintaining the grounds, and staying connected to and assisting all the club members – on top of juggling his own paid work and family commitments – are a lot, Abdul maintains there is nothing quite as rewarding as some of the special moments at the club. 

‘Sometimes it feels like too much, but then when I go to the field and one of the kids runs over for a hug, I see that big smile on his face – it’s worth it. 

‘Some of the kids who came through Logan Roos are now playing for other  clubs, so we have set a pathway for these kids, and they never forget. This is building a community.’ 

Despite his tireless work, receiving community safety and volunteer awards was a shock to Abdul. 

I am very grateful, and I did not expect it,’ he says. 

‘It is great to see people who understand what you do and see the importance of it.’ 

If you know someone like Abdul who makes our city a safer space, nominations for the 2022 Safe City awards are open now and close on Friday, September 9.

Nominees and nominators will be invited to an awards celebration in October.

For further information  SafeCity@logan.qld.gov.au or see Safe City Awards

By Sharon Worboys