In one of the most deprived areas of Coventry, Sleiman Mbarouk, better known as Sully, is on a mission to guide young people away from the dangers of gang culture and knife crime.
A former Coventry City footballer, Sully grew up in and around the neighbouring areas of Henley Green and Wood End. This part of the city is known for a strong sense of community but is often marred by economic hardship which inevitably can leave children feeling like crime is the only escape.
Sully understands the challenges young people face in Wood End – having grown up with the same challenges himself.
Moving from London to Coventry at just eight years old, he quickly found solace and purpose in football. Having been on the books at Chelsea, his talent caught the eye of Coventry City Academy, where he trained alongside players like the now Newcastle United and England striker Callum Wilson. Although Sully was later released by Coventry, his experience in football helped him avoid a life of crime and set him on a path towards mentoring others.
“Football is massive for me, football is everything – it gave me a direction, a reason to keep going,” says Sully. “It’s so easy for young people to get caught up in gang life, especially if they don’t feel they have other options. I want to show them that they do.”
Now in his early 30s, married, and working as Duty Manager at Moat House Community and Leisure Centre, Sully has found new ways to use his football background to make a difference. In recent years, he’s hosted Knives Down Boots Up, a series of football tournaments aimed specifically at bringing together young people from rival gangs and neighbourhoods across Coventry and beyond.
“We’ve had three events so far, with people coming from all over, even some local gang members,” he says. “There’s been no trouble at all, just friendly, peaceful, competitive matches.”
The tournaments aren’t Sully’s only contribution to the community. Recognising the potential in the area’s young talent, he organises free group sessions for boys and girls at Moat House Leisure Centre, seeing as many as 50-60 participants each week. These sessions aim to offer young people a sense of direction, the same kind he found in football. Sully’s coaching has already helped over 13 local children join major football academies, including Coventry City, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton, Leicester and Birmingham City – opportunities which likely wouldn’t have happened without his guidance.
“I’ve lived in Henley Green and Wood End my whole life, so I’ve seen a lot of young talent disappear,” he says. “Some kids just don’t have the support to keep going, you can see the kids that haven’t had anything to eat or haven’t got that support or direction and I wanted to change that. If I can save even one young person from taking the wrong path, that’s a blessing.”
To make an even greater impact, Sully offers one-to-one coaching sessions, free of charge and in his own time, for those determined to excel. Recently, he helped a 15-year-old boy who was struggling and on the edge of gang involvement. Sully took him under his wing, providing him with training as a goalkeeper and guiding him towards positive goals. That young man now has his own goalkeeping academy and has signed with a local team.
“His older brothers were on the streets, and some ended up in jail,” Sully explains. “I saw something in him and wanted to help. Now he’s thriving, and that’s the best feeling.”
Sully’s dedication to building up the youth in his area doesn’t stop at Moat House. He’s established several youth teams for the Coventry and Warwickshire leagues, as well as a men’s team called GxNG, a name he hopes will redefine the gang culture. “We’ve taken the ‘A’ out of ‘GANG’ to show it’s a new way forward. These lads are more than the street life – they’re building something positive.”
In August, Sully took Knives Down Boots Up to the next level with a large-scale tournament, Knives Down Boots Up Reload. The event saw 17 teams and hundreds of spectators, creating a powerful symbol of what young people can achieve when they set aside their differences and work together.
“Growing up, I remember going to my sister’s house as I knew there was no dinner at home. A lot of my mates at that time started getting involved with gangs – all of them are now in prison,” says Sully. “We’ve got to show the kids today that there’s a better way.”
Through his work, Sully has become more than just a coach; he’s a mentor, a role model, and a lifeline for many in Coventry’s most vulnerable communities. As he says: “Football saved me, and now it’s saving others.”