The A.F.L.'s First Ever Muslim Player

AnarchicBomber · Post by **AnarchicBomber** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:09 pm

is Mr Bachar Houli. Well done E.F.C.

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/real ... 78336.html

Apparently on top of being a talented player he is an exceptional person.

Fantastic for the club in so many ways.

sconsey · Post by **sconsey** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:18 pm

I read an article on him ages ago, and yeh, good head on his shoulders, and can play! Pretty funny how he started playing footy, without telling his parents, then won all the medals, and had no-where to put them...

Rossoneri · Post by **Rossoneri** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:18 pm

Hmmm..........a muslim bomber. Havent heard of that before

sash · Post by **sash** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:24 pm

lol ross. I think it is a get move bring Houli to the bombers anyway. I was hoping for a while he would come to us. Seems to have great skills,reads the gaem well too. Real class player. I remember reading the article in the age about him seems liek a good bloke too.

Rossoneri · Post by **Rossoneri** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:26 pm

Furthermore, have heard that he is a very good player, and surprised he went so low.

But now religion comes into it. He is a strict muslim and rumadan (sp?) is a religious festival in which muslims fast between sunrise and sunset. However it sometimes falls in september. Now the question is, what does he do and what does the club do?

He needed special clearance from a religious leader if he could fast in his own time due to the draft camp, would he be allowed to do it again should we make the finals?

But glad to get him at such a low pick.

AnarchicBomber · Post by **AnarchicBomber** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:31 pm

Rossoneri wrote:
But now religion comes into it. He is a strict muslim and rumadan (sp?) is a religious festival in which muslims fast between sunrise and sunset. However it sometimes falls in september. Now the question is, what does he do and what does the club do?

That will be an issue but according to the article:

'In four or five years, Ramadan will fall in the football season, and he'll fast for a month.'

So that should be enough time to get that sorted!

Rossoneri · Post by **Rossoneri** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:35 pm

AnarchicBomber wrote:
Rossoneri wrote:
But now religion comes into it. He is a strict muslim and rumadan (sp?) is a religious festival in which muslims fast between sunrise and sunset. However it sometimes falls in september. Now the question is, what does he do and what does the club do?
That will be an issue but according to the article:

'In four or five years, Ramadan will fall in the football season, and he'll fast for a month.'

So that should be enough time to get that sorted!

Hope so, because if we have a big game and he is required to play, fasting will reduce your energy. We need players at their peak physical condition, so it will be interesting come that time.

AnarchicBomber · Post by **AnarchicBomber** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:40 pm

Rossoneri wrote:
AnarchicBomber wrote:
Rossoneri wrote:
But now religion comes into it. He is a strict muslim and rumadan (sp?) is a religious festival in which muslims fast between sunrise and sunset. However it sometimes falls in september. Now the question is, what does he do and what does the club do?
That will be an issue but according to the article:

'In four or five years, Ramadan will fall in the football season, and he'll fast for a month.'

So that should be enough time to get that sorted!
Hope so, because if we have a big game and he is required to play, fasting will reduce your energy. We need players at their peak physical condition, so it will be interesting come that time.

Maybe it'll be in September and we won't have to worry

KIDDING!

Makaveli · Post by **Makaveli** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 4:50 pm

Rossoneri wrote:Hmmm..........a muslim bomber. Havent heard of that before

Haha, was gonna say the same thing. Hopefully we don't turn out like the canterbury bulldogs did after Al Masri went there though.
It's good to see essendon drafting a local from the western jets though and hopefully he does alright. Also with regards to ramadan it shouldn't be an issue, i remember my mate got clearance from the sheikh because he was going overseas, so i don't think its as bigger issue as people make out. That combined with the fact that he would be use to it by now.

jimmyc1985 · Post by **jimmyc1985** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 7:05 pm

Good on us. Getting him at pick 42 is a bit of a coup anyway. In terms of what this means for the game and Muslims in general, i'd say 'not much', citing Ezra Poyas as a precedent (Poyas being the first Jewish AFL player, i believe). But still, stoked that we had the open-mindedness to not pass over a talented player on the basis of religion.

robrulz5 · Post by **robrulz5** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 7:09 pm

He looks like a pretty good player. Can't wait to see him in the red & black.

Raph31 · Post by **Raph31** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 7:58 pm

Hopefully we don't turn out like the canterbury bulldogs did after Al Masri went there though.

El Masri's a brilliant player isn't he? And thought to be a good role model? The Bulldogs as a club have certainly been pretty dodgy, but I think he's more an exception to the bad behaviour than anything else.

jimmyc1985 · Post by **jimmyc1985** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 8:14 pm

Raph31 wrote:
Hopefully we don't turn out like the canterbury bulldogs did after Al Masri went there though.
El Masri's a brilliant player isn't he? And thought to be a good role model? The Bulldogs as a club have certainly been pretty dodgy, but I think he's more an exception to the bad behaviour than anything else.

Raph, you're absolutely spot on. If Houli is to us what El Masri is to the Bulldogs in the NRL, then that would be fan-bloody-fantastic.

Maka, that was such a stupid comment for so many reasons:
1) El Masri is an absolute role model off the field, and a bloody gun on it.
2) El Masri going to the Bulldogs hasn't really changed anything. As a club, they've always had a large Muslim supporter base due to their heritage in coming from Bankstown and Canterbury in Sydney's south west. Bankstown especially has always had a large Lebanese community, and therefore the Bulldogs as an NRL team have had problems with their supporter base many, many years before El Masri came along.

swoodley · Post by **swoodley** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 8:29 pm

This statement from his coach was in the current edition of Inside Football:

"Onballer who can push forward. He's got a big engine and can play both outside and inside at a pinch> He'd be the best playre I've seen in the TAC Cup since I started coaching in 2005. When you watch him play he would clearly be the most skilful in the competition. His skills are as good as you would see in any junior in the country"
Western Jets Coach Mark Neeld

If he's half as good as this bloke says, he will be a gun!

antcl · Post by **antcl** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:25 pm

Ahh, I've heard of other AFL players who are Muslims. The media just does not make a song & dance about it.

swoodley · Post by **swoodley** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:44 pm

Yze is a muslim.

All the hype re Bachar centres on how devout he is.

Yze doesn't talk about it so it hasn't been news with him.

antcl · Post by **antcl** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:46 pm

Kind of like how when Gutnick was Melbourne President, the media was always harping on about the restrictions on him becasue he was a strict Jew.

What was the fuss? Who cares if the president watches a match or not?

sash · Post by **sash** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:47 pm

Would rather not so much focus on the fact that he is muslim that shouldnt really change much at all!!! More to fact speak of his great football ability and skill and those injuries which could cost him his career.

andrewb · Post by **andrewb** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:07 pm

Well said, sash, and welcome to the bombers Mr Houli! Praise Allah that you've arrived at Essendon and Ish'a Allah we will win premierships during your time at the club.