Bachar Houli
Encyclopedia
Bachar Houli is an Australian rules football
er for Richmond
in the Australian Football League
(AFL). Houli plays as a midfielder. He is the first devout Muslim
to play in the AFL.
to Lebanese
parents. The young left-footer began playing football with Spotswood Football Club Under 12s in 2000. After consulting with a Sheikh
, Houli decided to break his Ramadan
fast for three days during the physical endurance tests at the AFL Draft Camp; this allowed him to record sufficient times to impress recruiters and be a viable selection in the draft.
by Essendon
. He played four games for the Bombers in 2007 and kicked three goals. After his impressive performances in the Bombers 2008 NAB Cup he was selected for the Bombers Round 1 team to play the Kangaroos. He played an important part in helping the Bombers secure a 55 point victory and received the first round nomination for the AFL Rising Star award
. After the completion of the 2010 trade week, Houli left Essendon
and was drafted by Richmond
with their only selection in the 2010 Pre-season Draft.
Houli picked up three Brownlow Medal
votes following a fantastic display for Richmond against in Round 21 of the 2011 season.
in the Rugby League community. Adem Yze
, a Melbourne
regular from 1995 to 2007, was one of the first Muslim Aussie Rules players at AFL level, and Houli has stated his desire to follow in Yze's footsteps. On 28 September 2009, Bachar married Rouba Abou-Zeid.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er for Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). Houli plays as a midfielder. He is the first devout Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
to play in the AFL.
Early career
Houli was born in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
parents. The young left-footer began playing football with Spotswood Football Club Under 12s in 2000. After consulting with a Sheikh
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
, Houli decided to break his Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
fast for three days during the physical endurance tests at the AFL Draft Camp; this allowed him to record sufficient times to impress recruiters and be a viable selection in the draft.
AFL career
Houli was drafted at pick 42 in the 2006 National Draft2006 AFL Draft
The 2006 AFL Draft is a recent national draft of the Australian Football League. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League....
by Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. He played four games for the Bombers in 2007 and kicked three goals. After his impressive performances in the Bombers 2008 NAB Cup he was selected for the Bombers Round 1 team to play the Kangaroos. He played an important part in helping the Bombers secure a 55 point victory and received the first round nomination for the AFL Rising Star award
AFL Rising Star award
The NAB AFL Rising Star award is given annually to a standout young player in the Australian Football League. Since 2007 the winner has been presented with the Ron Evans Medal and was first awarded in 1993...
. After the completion of the 2010 trade week, Houli left Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
and was drafted by Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
with their only selection in the 2010 Pre-season Draft.
Houli picked up three Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
votes following a fantastic display for Richmond against in Round 21 of the 2011 season.
Personal life
Houli has become a leading influence for many young Australian Muslims; his dedication and commitment to his AFL career has enabled him to become a primary figure in his Muslim community. Houli's role has been likened to that of Hazem El MasriHazem El Masri
Hazem El Masri is a Lebanese-Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australia and Lebanon international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he played his entire club football career with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with...
in the Rugby League community. Adem Yze
Adem Yze
Adem Yze is an Australian rules footballer of Albanian descent. He was educated at Galvin Park Secondary College in Werribee, Victoria...
, a Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
regular from 1995 to 2007, was one of the first Muslim Aussie Rules players at AFL level, and Houli has stated his desire to follow in Yze's footsteps. On 28 September 2009, Bachar married Rouba Abou-Zeid.