Brotherhood Sports Leagues Podcast: Recent Episodes
Brotherhood Sports Leagues
A podcast for members and fans of Brotherhood Sports Leagues in Mississauga. This podcast covers our two seasonal leagues, Brotherhood Softball League and Brotherhood Indoor Soccer League. Join our hosts as we talk about our journey through the season.
Episode 4 is hosted by Atik Syed with guests Eesa Merchant and Sufyaan Khan to discuss the updated season standings. Special thanks to Athar Jajri Real Estate for sponsoring this episode.
Episode 3 is hosted by Emad Ahmed, joined by Nabeel and Safwan to discuss the season so far as we approach the mid-season tournament.
Episode 2 is hosted by Atik Syed, joined by Jav & Tamour to discuss week 1 of the season.
Episode 1 is hosted by Emad Ahmed with guests Riyad and Faisal to discuss the draft and early parts of the season.
In the penultimate podcast of the season, Emad sits down with Mo and Riyad to unveil the winners of his seasons Awards! First timers, surprises, and obvious picks. Tune in to see the winners. Congrats to those taking home some hardware!
This episode of the the BSL Podcast, our Host Atik Syed sits with the 2 top teams GMs Jav Ahmed of the Nasrids and Riyad Ramjaun of the Mughals. They talk about the playoff preview, the replacement players, the year end award predictions and the 2 GMs get a lesson in Toronto Slang from Atik.
This episode of the the BSL Podcast, our Host Emad Ahmed sits with the nice guys of the league Khizer Channa of the Ottomans and Nabeel Jabbar of the Mamluks. They talk about the replacements that have been made in the league, the experience of being in the middle of the pack. They then talk about the case for MVP and look ahead into the playoffs.
The rankings are in, and so is the man behind them. Taqi Ahmed is back on the Brotherhood Softball podcast to break down the logic, stats, and drama behind his updated power rankings. He’s not holding back. Joined by Emad Ahmed, the duo tackles the biggest risers, the teams slipping fast, and what it’ll take to climb the list. Ottomans are in form, Mamluks are looking like frauds, and the Nasrids are still nasty. Whether you agree with the rankings or think your squad got snubbed, this episode is a must listen.
This week on the pod, it's a power-packed episode you won't want to miss! Host Rehan Ahmad is joined by reigning MVP Ammer Askary and perennial All-Star Hammad Shabbir for a mid-season deep dive into the Brotherhood Softball League. The trio break down every team's strengths and weaknesses with bold takes and sharp insight.
But that’s not all — they shake things up with 4 wild mock trades that could’ve flipped the league on its head. And to cap it off, Rehan takes the reins on a fun and fiery game of Over/Under, featuring some eye-popping stats you’ll be debating all week.
In this episode, guest host Ziggy sits down with the operations team members - Mo Kala and Riyad Ramjaun. The trio talk about the journey of the league and the early feedback on the changes this year. A big announcement on a BSL event upcoming and what to look forward to this Sunday. Tune in now.
In this episode, Host Emad Ahmed sits with 2 of our leagues newest stars - Atik Syed of the Ottomans and Kareem Ramadan of the Ayyubids.
They talk about their initial impressions of the quality of their league, reflect on their first few weeks, shoutout the leagues top performers and spread some hate over Taqi’s power rankings. Stay tuned for a new game Emad came up with calls Start, Bench, or Cut.
A lighthearted and concise discussion with a tad bit of Leafs depression.
Episode 2: A lively discussion on power rankings with guests Tamour and Umair Sheikh.
Started by breaking down the criteria used to evaluate teams, then dove deep into each team’s ranking, analyzing strengths, weaknesses, and key factors behind their positions.
Engaging debate with insightful takes from the guests!
Season 7 of the Brotherhood Podcast kicks off with a bang! Host Rehan Ahmad returns to the mic for Episode 1, joined by GMs Faisal Khan, Jav Ahmed, Shoaib Gaya, and Hamza Waheed. The crew dives deep into all the buzzworthy moments from the Draft, with Rehan pressing the GMs on some of their more... curious choices. The episode wraps up with a fun twist as the group builds their ultimate Fantasy Team. Who made the cut? You’ll have to tune in to find out!
On the final podcast for the 2024 BSL season, we welcome host Emad with the BSL operations committee - Commissioner Mo, Riyad and Zahid. The group delve into how the season went, what may be in store for next year, and also respond to some of your mailbag questions.
As we wrap up the podcast for this softball season, we want to thank all of you for listening, to our guests for providing fresh perspectives, and most importantly, our hosts Emad, Rehan and Umair on putting countless hours into these throughout the summer. See you in 2025!
Heading into the final weekend of the season, we have hosts Umair and Emad go through the results from last Sunday, their thoughts on the matchups heading into Championship Sunday, and lastly, the individual award winners for this season.
We are only a few nights away from the first playoff weekend of BSL11. Host Rehan is joined by Nasrids GM Jav and Mughals GM Riyad to talk about the matchups heading into this Sunday, and a bunch of other goodness - any time you get Jav, Ray and Riy in a (virtual) room together, you're bound to get some insightful commentary on all things BSL.
Episode 17 sees host Emad joined by Home Run Derby Champ Ammer of the Seljuqs to discuss the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game, including his prep heading into the derby and how he picked his team as an All-Star captain. The pair is then joined by Taqi, GM of the Ayyubids, to discuss the pre-playoff power rankings that has team groupchats buzzing.
The final weekend of the regular season is upon us. Host Emad is joined by seasoned vet Khizer of the Ottomans and BSL rookie Luqman of the Seljuqs to discuss their team's respective performances last weekend, Luqman's first year in BSL, and playoff seeding heading into Week 13.
Ray is joined by GM Jav of the Nasrids and Brotherhood Award winner Sameer of the Abbasids this week, and they have a lot to cover. The trio talk about current standings and playoff seeding, and do a deep dive on some offensive numbers. We also get another round of Ray's percentages, get some insight into pocket radar, chime in on the replacement player process and of course provide a recap of last week's games.
Host Umair is joined by BSL vets Atif of the Seljuqs and Tans of the Sultans. The trio dive into the results over the last few weeks, who's riding momentum at just the right time, and who appears to be losing ground in the race. They also give their takes on the bye weeks, standout players, and who they view as the contenders this season.
Ray wakes up on the wrong side of the bed while welcoming guests Yasser of the Abbasids and Mike of the Ottomans. The trio recaps this past week's games, plays "Ray's Percentages", "Cap or No Cap", and an intense "Kangaroo Court" where multiple team fines were levied. Mike also shares his perspective on the Big Trade he was involved in and how he saw it all go down.
Host Emad is joined by Aamir of the Nasrids and Hamid of the Mughals to chat about who the frontrunners are for the BSL Awards at this stage of the season.
This week's podcast features host Umair with Khizer of the Ottomans and Ali of the Seljuqs. We get to hear the guy's thoughts on last weekend's results, the impact the big fields are having on the numbers and offensive production in the League, and also hear a bit about Ali's experience with Team Canada at the T20 Cricket World Cup. Tune in.
The Youth Movement is upon us in this pod. Teenage rookie sensations Sufyaan of the Sultans and Idrees of the Abbasids join host Emad this week and these boys held it down. They chat about last week's results, notably with the Mughals dominating the weekend en route to two wins and the Seljuqs aberration of a weekend en route to two losses. Sufs and 'Drees then go into their time in the league so far and what it's been like playing with their dads. We also have another week of "This or That" with Emad, and touch base on the mid-season tournament going down on Friday.
Episode 9 of the BSL Pod features host Rehan with long-time guest Faisal of the Sultans and first-time guest Salman of the Ottomans. The guys dish out thoughts on the results from last week and go all "Inside Baseball" on the listeners with some lineup construction strategies. They also talk about the recent feedback from the league survey and give their take on how to approach the multitude of ties happening every week. We get another instalment of Ray's Percentages and Kangaroo Court, and close out discussing the Charity Game between Peel Police and BSL taking place on Friday June 7.
Episode 8 sees host Umair joined by Safwan of the Ayyubids and Nabeel of the Mamluks. The big three go through the results of week 3, as the Seljuqs stayed perfect, the Ottomans and Sultans stayed winless, and we had two ties to close out the afternoon. On the note of ties, the pod goes into how games are generally wrapping up faster, and whether changes should be made to give guys more opportunities to play, including tiebreakers and extra innings. We also dive into the midseason tourney, our special guests from last week, and tons of other content. Tune in.
Episode 7 has host Emad joined by two sultans of swat - Tamour of the Mughals and Hammad of the Ottomans. The boys provide a weekly recap of last week's games and provide their thoughts on how everyone has looked so far. Are the Seljuqs for real? Was there a mistake in the scorekeeping for the Mughals and Ottomans? Izzy hit three dingers on the new fields - really? Also, Emad introduces a new segment called "would you rather" and we get some intel on an exciting exhibition game in the works.
In this episode, Host Rehan is joined by BSL OG Shaheen of the Mughals and Seljuqs GM Shoaib. The trio get right into it, chatting about the results of week one and their general thoughts on the Opening Day festivities. Rehan brings back "Cap or No Cap" and "Ray's Percentages", and introduces a new segment called "Kangaroo Court" calling out some of the more comical moments from this past Sunday.
Episode 5 sees host Umair joined by two BSL OGs, Kashif of the Sultans and Rameez of the Ottomans. The trio provide their predictions on who will closing out the season with some shiny new silverware, as we dive into preseason individual award predictions. We also get the guys' thoughts on the teams they see as the biggest threats heading into Year XI.
Episode 4 is hosted by Emad Ahmed with two BSL GMs and decade veterans, Faisal Khan and Riyad Ramjaun. Riyad previews the new BSL Fantasy pool for the 2024 season and the amazing prizes available to be won. Faisal Khan gives us an update on opening Sunday and what to expect for the rest of the season for food.
Host Rehan is joined by GMs Taqi of the Ayyubids and Shamil of the Ottomans to discuss and analyze this year's draft. The GMs delve into their selection and evaluation process as well as reveal some interesting tidbits that surfaced during and after the draft. Stick around for the end of the pod, where Rehan introduces a new segment playing "Cap or No Cap" as well as "Ray's Percentages".
Episode 2 has our host Emad joined by Zahid to discuss the progress of the charity campaign and what is happening over the next few days. They dig into the big announcements regarding the mid-season tourney and rule changes. With the draft on Sunday, excitement is building for the start of the season.
Welcome to Season 6 of the BSL podcast. In Episode 1, our host Umair Jabbar talks to the new and old commissioners on what to expect this season and what they have planned for the upcoming season. Lots of new fresh ideas and exciting announcements. Should be a great season up ahead.
S5 Episode 18 our hosts sit down with the champs, Samarra FC represented by GM Fawad Akram and stud defenceman Anas Mohammad. The group talk about Samarra's journey and the epic final they played on Sunday.
In our penultimate episode of the season, our hosts break down the final match of the 2023-24 season and the journey of two different teams to the finals. Anatolia Captain Faizan and Maghrib goalie Ali Imam talk about what it took to get through a tough semifinals and what they look back on.
Episode 16 is all about the annual awards. Our host Taqi talks to Ramy, Babouli and Emad about the results of the league voting on the annual awards for the 2023-24 season
S5 E15 - Our host break it down with two of the perennial brotherhood award nominees, Hamza Waheed and Umair Ashraf. The group chat about the semi-final first legs and what to expect in the do or die second leg. We are down to the final two matchdays of the season with everything on the line.
Episode 14, our host talks to two goalkeepers on their preparation for a game and for your opponent. They discuss how to get ready for the semi-finals and what to expect with the final 4 teams.
Episode 13, our hosts lead a discussion with our commissioner Bassam Basit and social media extraordinaire Emad Ahmed about the current positioning of teams in the playoffs. With another leg coming up this week, what teams need to do in order to get through.
Episode 12 prepares us for the second season that is about to kick off. Our hosts talk to Abdo Menla and Hannan Syed of Sham on their season thus far and their preparations for a successful postseason run. The group discuss their expectations for each post-season matchup and what it will take for each team to advance to the next round.
In Episode 11, our hosts Murtaza and Taqi are joined by Hejaz young guns Asser and Mustafa as they discuss the final week of the regular season and what to expect heading into the playoffs. Still plenty to play for in the final week of the season with home field advantage still up for grabs.
Check out Episode 10 of the BISL Podcast as we get back on the pitch this weekend, featuring Aadhil of Maghrib FC and Afnan of Andalusia FC. These guys join hosts Taqi and Murtaza to discuss how things are shaping up entering into 2024, and what to keep an eye out for in these last few weeks of the regular season.
Episode 9 takes a different approach to our weekly pod, as it features the hosts with Anatolia GM Faizan and his superstar rookie goalkeeper Mohammed. The guys tell us more about the All-Star Game slated for February 18 and what other festivities are going down that Sunday. Check it out.
Episode 8 has our hosts joined by Samarra's last line of defence, goalkeeper Hussam Ayubi and newcomer Anas Mohammad. The group goes through their strengths and how they match up against the other teams.
Episode 7 sees two of the younger cats in the league, Reihan and Faizan of Anatolia, take over the pod. The duo talk about their time playing together over the last few seasons and their thoughts on the Canaries performance so far. We also hear about last week's scores and this week's matchups - teams are beginning to develop an identity and we have the scoop on who's hot and who's not. Check it out.
Episode 6 features the elusive (both on and off the pitch) Khalid from Hejaz joining Murtaza to chat about where the heck he's been in past weeks. We learn more Khalid the man, Khalid the footballer, and whether Murtaza really was the reason why Khalid took a personal sabbatical from the League over the last few weeks.
Episode 5 features two Egyptian brothers who are making some noise this season - #1 pick in this year's draft Karim and #1 pick in our hearts Omar, both of Masr FC, join Murtaza and (eventually) Taqi for an in-depth conversation about Karim and Omar's history playing together, what strengths their chemistry bring to the pitch, and their thoughts on the season so far.
Episode 5 welcomes second year player and Jerusalem goalkeeper Granit. Granit has been a welcomed addition to the League as a keeper focused on team organization and elite shot stopping ability. Hosts Taqi and Murtaza learn more about how Granit got into being a goalkeeper and what drew him to BISL. The trio then go into this week's matchups and give some predictions on who they see coming out on top in Matchweek 4.
This week's pod features box-to-box Maghrib FC star Ehab, and it's one for the ages. Ehab does not shy away from giving his thoughts on his team and the season thus far. A little bit of controversy, a little bit of chicanery, and a whole lot of directness - it seems like Ehab's style off the pitch is right in line with his style of play on it. This is one you don't want to miss.
Episode 2 welcomes newly minted GM Mustafa of Andalusia joining Murtaza and Taqi this week. Mustafa, fresh off a win in his first game as a GM, talks about his team and his approach to building a team that looks legit, while the trio talk about last week's results and this week's upcoming matchups.
As we kick off the new season of Brotherhood Soccer, co-hosts Murtaza and Taqi talk all things draft day, including surprise picks, sleeper picks and how the squads stack up in anticipation of Matchweek 1.
After Ep16 discussed the trophy, hosts Umair and Emad dive into the rest of the trophies and the individual award winners for BSL Season 10. Tune in to see who won the MVP, OPOY, ROY, MIP, POY, Brotherhood Award, and Gold Gloves for the 2023-2024 season. Congrats to all the winners!
Episode 16 features the 2023 Abbasids, as they captured their second BSL trophy in league history (and a third for many of its players) in defeating the Mamluks in the 9-inning final. Host Emad is joined by Abbasids GM Mo, All-Star Umair and 2023 Playoff MVP and BSL's most beloved player Tans, to talk about the Lions' road to the 'chip, including their mindset, tweaks made going into championship Sunday, and what brought them success as a group on and off the field. The guys do not shy away from sharing how much of a team effort this was, showing love to all thirteen players that suited up for the Abbasids this season - you love to see it. Tune in to listen in on how these champs came, saw and conquered. Congratulations, Abbasids!
Episode 15 gets two ROY/MVP candidates Faisal of the Nasrids and Hammad of the Ayyubids on the pod alongside host Emad. We get to hear about the Faisal and Hammad's journey into softball and BSL, and what they've enjoyed about the League so far. We also dive a bit more into their historic rookie campaigns, with Faisal setting the season record for HRs and RBIs, and Hammad setting single game records for RBIs and tying the single game record for homeruns (twice) during the campaign. The trio then go into the Saturday matchups for the playoffs, giving their thoughts on who will advance through to Sunday to face the Abbasids and Mamluks. It's all here in S4E15 - check it out.
On Episode 14, host Umair is joined by Taqi, GM of the Ayyubids and Nirvaan, pitcher for the Sultans. The big three dive deep into the numbers, discussing regular season stats, advanced stats, outliers and key indicators. We touch on HR, AVG RISP, OPS, woBA, wRC, BABIP, mmbop, mbappe, bopit -- you name a stat, and we likely have ran the numbers. If you're a stathead, this one is for you. If you're not a stathead, we ask you to tune in anyway because numbers don't lie.
Episode 13 sees host Emad joined by Aftab, pitcher of the Mamluks, and Mo, co-GM of the Abbasids. We hear about Aftab's approach and mindset on the mound, notably after pitching only the fourth shutout in BSL history this past Sunday. We also learn about his season so far and how he feels about his league leading Mamluks. We too hear from Mo, an OG BSLer and one of our longest standing League sponsors, about the Abbasids this year and their charity initiative for coming Sunday. The trio then dive into what matchups look likely in the playoffs too - press play and lock into this one.
Episode 12 of the BSL Pod takes a different approach from your weekly programming, as we have host Emad joined by Sameer of the Seljuqs and Ali of the Mughals. Here's what this podcast features very little of - softball talk. However, the brothers dive into topics surrounding game day prep, and what to do to keep your body right and feeling good the whole season - this is a semi-pro league, after all. The spotlight turns to Ali at the end of this one, as we hear about the work he is doing in with GT20 Canada, his new clinic, and some of the interesting (and celebrity) clients he's treated over the years. Check it out.
Episode 11 sees host Umair joined by two dudes that do a ton behind the scenes to make the League what it is today - Day 1 Vet Riyad of the Mughals and Rookie Sameer from the Mamluks. Ri has been contributing in many facets every since he first joined the league a decade ago, while new kid on the block Sameer has been a big player in all the BSL content you've been seeing on your socials . The trio talk about some big wins from the teams sitting at the bottom of the standings, and voice their thoughts on whether these teams are for real or just had a lucky weekend. Also, we get a chance to learn of what these "BRO PTS" are all about. Lastly, Riyad delves into how the Mughals plan to bring back fantasy BSL over the next few weeks as part of their charity campaign. Tune in.
Episode 10 of the BSL Pod features Host Emad talking to two well known brothers in the league - Chu of the Seljuqs and Sham of the Ottomans. The trio run through the league and give their thoughts on how each team looks coming into July, including discussing some teams that look better (or worse) than their record shows. Also, with the trade deadline passing without a single move being made, Emad provides some theoretical trade scenarios and get the guests thoughts on whether they would make that deal or not. Lastly, we hear about what the Ayyubids have in store for their Charity Day on Sunday. Tune into Ep X of BSL X right now.
Episode 9 is for the stat heads out there. Host Umair is joined by Emad of the Sultans and Taqi of the Ayyubids to talk about how things are shaping up now that every team has played one another at least once this season. Do the standings accurately reflect the power rankings? There are some differing opinions. Also, the trio talk about the Rookie of the Year race, and Emad tells us about what the Sultans have in store for their charity day. There of course is a fair share of Taqi opinions littered throughout the pod too - this man has some takes, y'all. Tune in.
In Episode 8, Emad is joined by perennial All Stars Ismail of the Ayyubids and Omer of the Seljuqs, who talk about what introduced them to BSL and how they've seen the league grow to what it is today. The guests also talk about their teams, who happen to be sitting at opposite ends of the standings, and give their thoughts on the season so far. We get to hear about the Seljuqs plans for their charity Sunday as well, and what podcast with these three would be complete without some Urdu-shurdu? Let's dive into it.
Episode 7 seems Umair J talking all things Week 2 with a pair of Sheikhs - Umair of the Abbasids and Tamour of the Sultans. The trio get deep into the numbers, talking (alleged) record breaking performances and major BSL career milestones for some superstars. They also give their thoughts on how the season has panned out so far, notably giving their two cents on the 1-1 count, the hot (and I mean hot) bats, and some standout rookies. Of course, a podcast with these guys wouldn't be complete without some banter as well - let's have at it!
Episode 6 has host Emad joined by two reigning champs who have built teams in the Nasrids and Mamluks that already look in midseason form. Nasrids GM Jav and Mamluks GM Raza give their insights on week 1, giving much deserved respect to the monstrous performances of their teammates that helped each of their teams take both games this past Sunday. The trio on the mic were sure to show some love to the other 2-0 team, the Abbasids, and players on some other teams who had big days at the plate last week. The guys also talk about the success of the the opening day festivities, and shout out some rookies that have really showed impressive character on and off the field. Check it out.
With opening day a mere few days away, the start of BSL10 is finally upon us. Episode 5 features host Umair talking to Commissioner Zahid and Abbasids GM Mo about what they are looking forward as we inch closer to the first pitch of the season. The trio take a trip down memory lane, chatting about Year 1 versus Year 10, and how things have changed. They also talk about the exciting events planned for families on Sunday, and give some insight into how the discussion about mandatory face masks for pitchers came about. Tune in now.
As we build up to exhibition weekend, host Emad is joined by two "original six" members of BSL - Faisal (GM of Ottomans) and Riyad (GM of Mughals). The BSL OGs give their thoughts on the how their teams look heading into the season, and also talk game about which teams are the biggest threats in their quests for the trophy. The trio then play Nostradamus, giving their predictions for individual award winners this season, including some surprise dark horse picks we sure weren't expecting. Also, you can hear more about what kind of fun family filled activities the League has in store for Opening Day. Check it out.
Eid Mubarak to all our listeners - after a brief hiatus, we are back with Episode 3 of the BSL Pod. This episode is hosted by Emad and features two GMs - Sameer from the Seljuqs and Taqi from the Ayyubids. The big three dive right into how it all panned out, honing on on the stars, steals, and surprises from the draft. We also show love to the BSL community for the initiative and support shown during the BSL x Islamic Relief Charity Drive, and give a glimpse as to what sorts of things, on and off the field, you expect to see this season.
Episode 2 in the buildup to #BSL10 features former championship winning GMs Umair and Sham discussing all things draft day. The duo discuss their approach to drafts in year's past - where they like being in the draft order, what they centred their draft around and what they think was key on draft day that helped them secure that trophy. The ex-GMs also discuss how they see this year's first round panning out, including some surprises.
In Episode 1, Host Emad talks to Commish Zahid about the upcoming 10th season and what makes this season special. They discuss the Ramadan campaign the league just launched along with the recent rule change.
BSL10 #podcast #brotherhood #softball #morethanaleague #muslimsports #muslimathletes #playforacause #slopitch #slowpitch #SPN #mississauga
In the final episode of the season, Owais and Taqi close out the year with three members of the champions Sham - GM Muhammad, Forward Ali and Defender Abdo. The SHAMpions kick knowledge on the undefeated season that was, from Ovaiz's record-breaking performances to the underrated defence to the nailbiting final that saw Sham take the crown on penalties. A season for the ages by a team for the ages. Owais and Taqi then announce the end-of-season awards, giving flowers to the individual players who stood out above the rest this season.
As the final podcast of the year, the League wants to thank Owais and Taqi for holding it down week-in, week-out, the guests for never shying away from giving their takes and thoughts on the year, and most importantly, the league and its listeners for engaging with the content and showing love to the work put in.
Stay on the lookout for Brotherhood Softball podcasts starting up in May. Ramadan Kareem!
Six down, two to go. Last week's results confirmed a final of Sham vs Masr, the two top seeds in their respective divisions. Taqi and Owais break down the teams 1v1 and dissect what they think will be the decisive factors for the teams. Will Aadhil secure back-to-back championships, the first of his tenure as a GM? Or will Shah finally secure his first chip as a GM after coming short in past finals? It's shaping up to be an incredible match-up - tune in.
And then there were four. Episode 12 features guests from all the teams that advanced to the semis - Taqi (Hejaz), Nabeel (Sham), Mostafa (Samarra) and Afnan (Masr). The quartet talk about each of their team's respective victories over the two-leg quarter, and give a sneak peak as to their thoughts going into the semis. The banter and energy is high in this one - give it a go.
Episode 11 has Taqi and Owais dive into the first leg of the quarters, chiming in on a very some intriguing results. Three of the four results came as a surprise to the league, including Samarra's defiant display thanks in large part to a heroic goalkeeping display matched by a virtuoso performance by the black stars GM. Jerusalem shocked many with how well they played against the pacey (and dare we say, predictable) Masr to secure a 1-1 draw, while Taqi Tactics and its place in the playoffs are put under the microscope yet again after Hejaz see through a 0-0 draw against Maghrib. And, as we have come to expect all season, Sham did what Sham does in a composed and dominant performance against Andalusia. We have an exciting second leg around the corner - will the favourites correct their course or are there some upset results on the horizon? Tune in to get our expert's thoughts.
The second season is finally upon us - it's playoffs, baby! Episode 10 sees co-hosts Taqi and Owais break down the upcoming quarterfinal matchups, discussing x-factors, tactics, and even give some scoreline predictions. Will the first leg of the quarters have some surprise results akin to last year? Check it out.
Episode 9 of the BISL Pod has hosts Taqi and Owais joined by this year's #1 overall pick Khizar. Khizar holds no punches as he breaks down Samarra's dominant 8-2 win over Hejaz this past Sunday, and the trio of all-stars go into the other results as well. They also look ahead to potential playoff matchups and who they want to play in the first round. And, of course, it wouldn't be a pod featuring "hood rats" from Malton without a little bit of banter, right? Take a listen.
Episode 8 finally welcomes back Owais with Taqi to discuss what went down in an eventful week 7. The co-hosts tackle Ovaiz's record-breaking performance, the Spaniards's first win on the year, a spirited result from the Hejazis and Afnan's stellar performance in his first game back from the motherland. They also go into this week's matchups and what's at stake with the playoffs only a few weeks away.
Happy New Year! After a brief hiatus, the BISL pod is back. In our first episode of 2023, host Taqi is joined by Masr FC winger (and reigning champion) Bassam to talk about the first half of the season and the match-ups this coming week. The pair also chit-chat about who's been elite this year and who's left much to be desired. Tune in.
S3 E6 has Taqi joined by another rookie in the league, Faizan from Maghrib FC, in a tactics-driven discussion. Taqi learns more about Faizan's route to the League, his style of play, and his relationship on the pitch with fellow Maghrib rookie, Ramy. The duo also go deep (and I mean deep) into the results last week and give their thoughts on this Sunday's final round of fixtures before the winter break. Most importantly though, we uncover whether or not that really is his last name.
Season 3 Episode 5 of the pod showcases former Golden Boot, Brotherhood Award, and Championship Winner Humeid in the studio with host Taqi. Humeid is known by virtually everyone of the league and is touted by many as the perfect teammate. We dive deep into Humeid's time in the league, his evolution from clinical finisher to defensive lynchpin, and how he feels about his team adorn in yellow this season. The pair also preview this week's matchup and continue to laud praises of players making a major impact in the League thus far.
This week's episode features long-time BISL member and reigning Goalkeeper of the Year, Saqib. Saqib is joined by host Owais to talk through his time in the League, his evolution from midfielder to striker to GM to keeper, why he decided to trade in goals and tackles on the pitch for saves and clean sheets between the sticks, and his thoughts on Jerusalem's season thus far.
Episode 3 of the pod features one of the new faces to the league - Ovaiz from Sham. After a sensational start to the campaign, including a 6 point debut, Ovaiz chats with Taqi about how he got into playing footy, who has impressed him in the League so far, and his thoughts about his team and his play this year. The duo also give their thoughts on this week's matchups, complete with some banter and some sizzling takes. Check it out.
Season 3 Episode 2 has last season's playoff MVP and new Masr GM Aadhil join Owais and Taqi to discuss his approach to the draft this year, his "rivalry" with Fawad, and who he would've taken if he had the first overall pick. The trio also dive into the results from week 1 and who they see coming out on top this Sunday.
A new season of BISL is upon us. The pod welcomes back Owais and Taqi as hosts as they talk opening day and detail their thoughts leading up to to matchweek 1 - the new GMs for they ear, rookies with a reputation, and draft steals and surprises. The duo also give their take on which team looks the best on paper and how the squads looked during the exhibition matchups last week. Kick-off on the new season is hours away, let's get right into it.
In this final episode of Season 2, our hosts for the year Emad Ahmed and Umair Jabbar reveal the award winners for the season, with a twist. Some awards were expected while others, including MVP, were a surprise. Tune in to hear more about the winners and congrats to all those collecting a trophy on the night!
This episode marks the end of Season 2. A HUGE thank you to Umair and Emad for hosting throughout the season - the pod would not have been possible or as entertaining without you two. Special thank you to all of our guests this year, and the biggest thanks goes to all you listeners and supporters of the pod and the League at large. We hope to see you on the diamond next year; but in the meantime...BISL is less than a month away!
And there there was one - congratulations to the Nasrids on capturing their first BSL Title. Season 2 Episode 15 has hosted Emad Ahmed interview Nasrid co-GM and champ Jav Ahmed alongside BSL vet, all-star, ace and now champion (he must be thrilled we can finally call him that) Nirvaan Latif. The pod goes into how Wildcard Saturday panned out with some upsets and the underdogs rising to the top with a trip to Super Sunday. We then delve into how Sunday unfolded in the eyes of the Nasrids, who convincingly kept their opponents in both games at bay en route to victory Lastly, we get a sense of how long-time Nasrids like Nirv and Osman Buttar finally feel getting that championship that's eluded them all these years. It's trophy talk baby - OH YEAH.
Season 2 Episode 14 has host Umair Jabbar joined by a panel of our regular guests: Rehan Ahmad, Sameer Rafique, Saqib Khokhar and Taqi Ahmed. The squad breaks down each playoff matchup and the keys to success for each team to advance to the finals. They dig deep to pick their cinderella story and which team is most likely to shock the world. You don't want to miss this one.
Season 2 Episode 13 has host Emad Ahmed joined by Mamluks Captain Zain Malik and Abbasids star Yousaf Chaudhry to recap last week's crazy outcomes. The trio recap the amazing charity days from each of the teams and pick their fav food vendor. Finally, they dwell into the upcoming final regular season games, the implications on the standings and the push to the title.
Season 2 Episode 12 has host Emad Ahmed joined by Sultan leadoff man Owais Ansari and Abbasid star Safwan Khan to discuss the week that was in BSL. Last week's results had a bit of everything - some milestones, some shocking defeats and a couple of miraculous walkoff wins. Madi leads a convo with Papi and Safi that applauds the hot streaks their respective teams are on, discussing what sparked the run of good ball and what they personally have done to contribute to the success of their teams. The trident of talent also shine a spotlight on guys in the League that fly under the radar and are often unnoticed but deserve their flowers for what they bring to the table on and off the field.
On Season 2 Episode 11, we have host Umair Jabbar joined by two voices very familiar to the BSL universe - Mughals GM Rehan Ahmad and BSL/BISL stud Taqi Ahmed. This podcast has everything you would expect from these three featuring together - hot takes, keys to success, disagreements, and some BSL Inside Baseball chatter. There is something for everyone in this one, as three of the most outspoken and appreciated voices in the League do not hold back while sharing their thoughts on all things BSL.
After a one week hiatus, the BSL Pod is back with Episode 10. This episode features host Emad Ahmed getting to know Hassan "Brit" Chaudhary and Erfan Bhanapatel. Brit takes us through the monumental win against the Ottomans a few weeks back, and the "crashing down to Earth" the team experienced this past Sunday. Meanwhile, Erfan gives his thoughts as a rookie in the League so far and how he feels about his team at this juncture. The trio also talk about one wish they have for each team heading into a crucial stretch before playoffs.
Season 2 Episode 9 welcomes back host Umair Jabbar, who is joined alongside BSL Commish who has a big announcement on his future plans with the league. They delve into a series of topics including the amazing charity days so far and what to expect for the second half of the season.
Season 2 Episode 8 has welcomes back Host Emad Ahmed, who is joined alongside BSL vet Hamza Waheed to chat with one of the league's unsung heroes, Idrees Qureshi. Idress has the thankless job of being a scorekeeper in the League, and we hear from him about what it's been like keeping score this year, and which players seem to be in his ear week-in/week-out when it comes to their stats. They also delve into a variety of other topics about the League as we inch closer and closer to getting back on the field.
Season 2 Episode 7 features host Emad Ahmed alongside Taqi Ahmed and Saqib Khokhar (aka Taq & Shack) to talk about what went down in Week 5 and where things stand before the break. We hear about which teams go into the break hot and which are relieved to have some time off to refocus and heal. The pod delves into BSL fashion as well (no, but really), and of course, any podcast with Taq & Shack features its fair share of viral-worthy soundbites and "tehz" takes. Tune in.
Season 2 Episode 6 features host Emad Ahmed with two BSL vets Owais Ansari and Riyad Ramjaun. The trio talk about mid-season form of the teams and what it takes to elevate their game to the next level. They preview the huge upcoming matchup Abbasids-Nasrids and the Mughals charity day.
Season 2 Episode 5 features host and Sultan Umair Jabbar alongside Seljuq Shoaib Gaya and Abbasid Safwan Khan discuss how things are looking at the first quarter mark of the season. The boys also talk about who is making an impact at these early stages and what teams they think will continue to show they are a cut above the rest in the league.
Season 2 Episode 4 features guest host Emad Ahmed cutting it up with Tamour Sheikh and Yasser Malik about players that have been riding a hot streak and players who have been a bit slower than expected out of the gate. We also chat which rookies are making an immediate impact and what the Mamluks have in store for their charity day.
Season 2 Episode 3 features our host and BSL champion Umair Jabbar with reigning MVP Bilal Javed and reigning Batting champ Taha Iqbal. The trio discuss the impressions made in the opening week of the season and some the of the surprises thus far.
Brought to you by: Canadian Muslim Vote
Season 2 Episode 2 features former Seljuqs GM Umair Jabbar with two of our current GMs: Sameer Rafique of Seljuqs and Rehan Ahmad of Mughals. They talk about their preparations for the draft, their sleepers and their predictions for the end of the season.
Brought to you by: Team Jabbar Realty
Season 2 Episode 2 features our Social Media Director Emad Ahmed and Commissioner Zahid Merchant talking about the preparations for the upcoming season and all the exciting changes coming this year.
Brought to you by: Islamic Relief Canada
In the final episode of the year, Owais and Taqi close out the season and announce the individual and team awards for the 2021-2022 BISL Season. This episode is brought to you by Masrawy Kitchen, the finest Egyptian cuisine in the GTA.
Episode 16 features the champs, Maghrib FC. Owais and Taqi are joined by champions Danish, Bassam and Hannan to talk about that resilient and impressive performance by the team in the finals, and Maghrib's season overall.
Episode 15 has Taqi joined by his Hejaz teammate Mustafa as well as Saad and Umer from Sham as they break down what happened in their respective semi final matchups and provide analysis on the two teams playing in the final, Maghrib and Masr. The quartet go through each positional matchup and the tactical strategy of the finalists, giving their thoughts on who will be crowned victor when the final whistle blows this Sunday.
This episode is brought to you by www.muhammadshah.ca
Episode 014 of the BISL features Owais talking to Murtaza, GM of Jerusalem, and Raza, Anatolia utility man, about the end of the road for Jerusalem, Anatolia, Andalusia and Samarra. The trio then delve into the semi final matchups, giving their thoughts on the key players in the tie and who they see making it to the finals.
Episode 13 features one of the rookies in the league that have made a immediate impression on and off the field. Masr FC's Ehab joins Taqi and Owais to share his thoughts on his first year in the League, his thoughts on who he favours going to the semis, and his "performance" in the new players tryout.
Episode 12 features a man we hear of week in, week out, yet know very little about. The name "Umair" mentioned by nearly every guest we have had on the show, but who is this guy that has captured the hearts of men in BISL, near and far? This week sees Taqi tackle that age old question and more with the man, the myth, the legend himself.
This episode is brought to you by Islamic Relief Canada.
Playoffs?Podcast host Owais is joined by BISL OG Riaz and reigning BISL Defender of the Year Salman to talk all things playoffs. The boys run through each matchup and provide their thoughts on who looks to come out on top in the first leg.
Episode 10 has Taqi joined by Junaid (GM of Samarra) and Afnan (of Jerusalem FC) as they talk about the matchups heading into the final week of the regular season. The boys spit knowledge about which teams may have benefitted from having a few months off to realign, scoreline predictions, playoff scenarios and, of course, a healthy serving of bants. The trio also lend their thoughts on who they think is the best keeper in the L.
This week's episode is brought to you by O.M Grills, premium smoked steak strips.
We. Are. Back. Episode 009 features boardmembers Zahid and Hashim officially announcing the return of the BISL Season, with an outlook on new safety protocols, revised schedule and other tidbits of info relevant to getting back on the pitch.
In Episode 8, the final pod of 2021 has BISL superstar, founder and boardmember Zain joins Hashim to talk Anatolia's 2019 championship, how BISL has grown over the years, his thoughts on this season and, as would be expected on a podcast featuring these two, some Arsenal banter.
Episode 7 sees BISL rookie Yousef join Owais and Taqi to talk about his experience in the league, how he feels about Hejaz's chances to reign supreme, and that big victory over Masr last week. Confidence is riding high in the Hejazi camp, and if you thought Taqi and Yousef were a lot to handle on the pitch, wait until you hear them on a podcast together.
In Episode 006, Owais takes the mic back and is joined by GMs Junaid (Samarra) and Danish (Maghrib) to respond to some of the criticisms dished out on the last pod, and also give their thoughts on their respective teams and the season so far. Is there is more fuel added to the fire from last week? Tune in and find out.
Episode 005 is for those who don't shy away from a bit of spice. Taqi hosts the two new GMs in this season, Murtaza (Jerusalem) and Omar (Masr), where the two talk about how they got into the League, how it's been GMing so far, and give a lot of love to their teams and others in BISL. This episode also features a lot of Taqi, and yeah, you won't want to miss this one.
Episode 4 sees Owais and Taqi break down the first few weeks of the season, including which team stands out so far, BISL veterans who look poised to continue their strong form of season's past, rookies that have made an immediate impact, and some advice for the teams that have stuttered coming out of the gates.
This episode is brought to you by Masrawy Kitchen.
Episode 3 has BISL superstar and Sham GM Muhammad Shah join the podcast in a 1v1 chat where he talks about how the league has grown since its inception, how he feels about his squad this year, his all-time 6-a-side team of guys he has played with, and which guys he would love to play with.
In episode 2 , GMs Taqi and Owais join Hashim and share their strategy going into the draft. The trio also give their thoughts on how each team looks heading into the season, including sleeper picks, questionable selections and who they think is the team to beat.
This episode is sponsored by Kala Law Professional Corporation - offering high-quality legal services at an affordable price to help you with all of your legal needs.
After two years, BISL is finally back. In the inaugural BISL pod, boardmembers Zahid and Hashim lay out the new protocols and policies surrounding play this year, provide an overview of the divisions, clubs, and GMs heading into the season, and give their thoughts on the draft, including who they think will be the first forwards, defenders and keepers off the board.
Islamic Relief Canada