Author Topic: Bachar Houli [merged]  (Read 396183 times)

Offline Eat_em_Alive

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Re: Bachar Houli [merged]
« Reply #630 on: February 28, 2012, 04:50:56 PM »
Should be in the leadership group IMHO

I agree, maybe next year  :thumbsup
The anywhere, anytime Tigers.
E A T  E M  A L I V E  M O F O S

Offline Coach

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Re: Bachar Houli [merged]
« Reply #631 on: February 28, 2012, 04:52:52 PM »
Should be in the leadership group IMHO

I disagree ;D Would take him over Jacko though.

Offline one-eyed

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Re: Bachar Houli [merged]
« Reply #632 on: February 28, 2012, 07:06:00 PM »
Snip! Stick to the topic ppl!

gerkin greg

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Re: Bachar Houli [merged]
« Reply #633 on: February 28, 2012, 09:36:31 PM »
Good family man  :thumbsup
Respects his mother

<3 the BASH

Offline Willy

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Re: Bachar Houli [merged]
« Reply #634 on: March 09, 2012, 11:45:45 PM »
After reportedly burning the track up this summer i reckon Bash has been pretty underwhelming in the NAB games. Hopefully lifts against the Cats.

Hellenic Tiger

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Re: Bachar Houli [merged]
« Reply #635 on: March 10, 2012, 12:49:14 PM »
Wouldn't worry about it with so many blokes being rotated through half back at the moment.
Will come good. A game like today's will be perfect place to start for him.

Offline one-eyed

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It's all relative as Tiger Houli says thanks (Age)
« Reply #636 on: March 14, 2012, 03:38:44 AM »
It's all relative as Tiger Houli says thanks
Caroline Wilson
The Age
March 14, 2012



Richmond player Bachar Houli with dozens of the 100 family members he has signed up as Richmond members. Photo: Jason South


THE word ''faith'' comes up often when Richmond's Bachar Houli speaks about his new role as the AFL's Muslim ambassador.

But it was faith of a different kind that led to the 23-year-old breaking yet another barrier yesterday when his personal quest to say thank you to his new club saw Houli sign up his 100th relative as a Tigers member.

He assembled much of his clan for The Age at sunset on the eve of becoming one of 10 footballing ambassadors for a series of AFL multicultural campaigns aimed at attracting more teenagers from non-traditional football backgrounds to the game and promoting it generally among diverse communities.

While indigenous Australians make up 10 per cent of club lists, a further 10 per cent of players come from multicultural backgrounds.

Last season Houli was the only practising Muslim in the AFL, and he is regarded as the most observant to have played at elite level.

''I wanted to thank the club for the faith they showed in me,'' he said. ''And I also wanted to thank them for the way they have honoured my faith.

''There is a prayer room for me at the club. They make allowances for me during Ramadan and they provide halal food at the club and organise it when we travel.''

Houli not only addressed the entire playing list and the Richmond staff last year about what it meant to be a Muslim but he did so again not long ago to the Tigers' new recruits.

''Everyone at Richmond has shown a lot of interest in what it means to be a Muslim,'' he said, ''and it has meant a lot to me to explain to them that most of us are not fanatics and that those people are a minority doing terrible things because they have become twisted in some way.''

A large chunk of his extended family - most of whom do not normally barrack for Richmond - met at his old school, al-Taqwa College, in Truganina. Houli has been employed by the AFL to develop programs there and across Victoria's five other Muslim schools, attended by about 15,000 children.

''We need more Muslims playing football and we need more Africans playing football,'' he said. ''This is a great game and if I can do my bit I will be very proud.''

Houli has been joined this season by fellow Muslim and St Kilda recruit Ahmed Saad, who will also be a multicultural ambassador as will other players including Majak Daw, Nic Naitanui and Leigh Montagna.

Houli agreed with his trademark smile that it is fortuitous having the month of Ramadan fall over July-August this year, meaning the hours between sunrise and sunset when he must fast are fewer than they might be otherwise. The club last season made allowances, excusing him, for example, from certain arduous training sessions during daylight hours.

Of Houli's 100 relatives now financially aligned to Tigerland, only three - his parents Malek and Yamama and wife, Rouba - were paid for by him. Malek Houli came to Australia from Lebanon as a 19-year-old and now runs the family fish shop.

Bachar was 11 when an older brother (he has six siblings, the eldest of whom is a surgeon ) secretly drove him to an under 12s game in a football competition in Melbourne's west. Just as Houli hid his football involvement from his parents for an entire season - he was caught out when he arrived home clutching a best and fairest trophy under his jumper - he also hid his faith for years from teammates.

The turning point came when he toured with the Victorian under-16 team. He was captain and neither overly shy nor extroverted, so the team manager placed him with the quietest and loudest two players in a bedroom.

''I realised that having to pray five times a day was not something I could hide,'' recalled Houli. ''On the first night I asked them to turn off the television and I explained it all to them. They were so interested and it was like a load had lifted off my shoulders.''

He described a meeting with Richmond's then new coach, Damien Hardwick, at the end of 2010 as another key turning point. He had endured a frustrating season at Essendon in which he never felt clear as to why he was being overlooked for senior selection, but Hardwick sat Houli down in a room at Punt Road and drew him a diagram.

''He had my old No. 43 on a wing and he said to me: 'That's where I'll play you for 22 games next year.' He kept his promise about the 22 games, although I still haven't played on the wing. I'm not saying I've made it, but I am just so happy I have come to this club.''

Houli said as much at last year's Richmond best and fairest celebrations, at which he bought two tables for his family and finished fourth in the count. He reiterated that Essendon too had happily made accommodations for his faith but said then that he wanted to repay the Tigers for believing in him.

Houli said he had some sympathy for Sudanese-born North Melbourne rookie Majak Daw - recently suspended by the Kangaroos for lying to coach Brad Scott.

He said he had spoken with the disappointed Daw several times since Daw's public humiliation. ''I just told him to stick with it, because he's been doing it tough.''

The multicultural program launch came in a week in which Liam Jurrah's plight has thrust the indigenous debate firmly into the public spotlight. The AFL has become increasingly concerned that some club recruiters are looking for excuses not to choose players from troubled backgrounds.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said yesterday: ''If we started not recruiting people in employment because of their background, or where they came from was too hard, then I'd have grave fears for this country. We are a much better industry because of the diverse nature of the player population … We're a much better country.''

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/its-all-relative-as-tiger-houli-says-thanks-20120313-1uyiz.html#ixzz1p11rtb8r

Dubstep Dookie

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Re: Bachar Houli [merged]
« Reply #637 on: March 14, 2012, 06:23:26 AM »
Legend  :clapping

Offline tiga

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Re: Bachar Houli [merged]
« Reply #638 on: March 14, 2012, 10:27:58 AM »
Stuff I love this guy!! He not only loves his footy but also loves his club! He talks the talk and walks the walk!  :thumbsup :thumbsup :bow :clapping

Offline Sabretooth

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Re: Bachar Houli [merged]
« Reply #639 on: March 14, 2012, 10:47:52 AM »
Sensational stuff!

Bachar is certainly putting his heart & soul into the club, which is a great example to us all.

Offline one-eyed

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Re: Bachar Houli [merged]
« Reply #640 on: March 14, 2012, 01:52:13 PM »
In 2011, Houli referred about 70 of his family and friends as Tiger members, as part of ‘Operation 10,000’.

This year, he has already reached triple figures, referring his 100th member early this week.

Full article at: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/130656/default.aspx

Offline Stripes

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Re: Bachar Houli [merged]
« Reply #641 on: March 14, 2012, 02:26:20 PM »
He really appreciates every second he has playing for our great club and puts everything into it. Is a huge role-model for the rest of the squad and society in general. Another example of fantastic recruitment by our current administration  :thumbsup

Offline Smokey

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Re: Bachar Houli [merged]
« Reply #642 on: March 14, 2012, 06:45:03 PM »
Nah, haven't you read all the posts Stripes?  Francis Jackson and Craig Cameron are totally to blame for our lack of premiership success thus far and must have totally lucked onto Houli.

 ::)

Offline Coach

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Re: Bachar Houli [merged]
« Reply #643 on: March 14, 2012, 06:47:38 PM »
STFU Smokey. Craig Cameron is a dud ;D


Offline one-eyed

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Re: Bachar Houli [merged]
« Reply #644 on: March 14, 2012, 06:57:12 PM »
He really appreciates every second he has playing for our great club and puts everything into it.
Houli was on Ch 7 news praising Richmond as the club that's been very welcoming and understanding of his faith. A nice backhander at Essendon :yep.