Once an outsider, Bachar Houli is now helping young Muslim footballers achieve their AFL dreams

The triple premiership champion is revered by many, but his journey to the top wasn't easy as a young Muslim boy with little guidance in a field where Islam is under-represented.

Bachar Houli will go down in AFL history as one of the greatest players to grace the field. Now he is teaching young Muslim boys that they can share a similar fate, too. Credit: Bilal Ali / Bachar Houli Foundation

When Bachar Houli started playing football as a teenager in suburban Melbourne, he would sneak out of his home to avoid his mother and father's disapproval.

Now, after a glittering 15-year AFL career, 232 games and three premierships for Richmond FC, the retired champion is on a mission to get more Muslims playing the game.

Houli, who retired in 2021, established the Bachar Houli Foundation to provide a pathway for young Muslim talent to enhance their AFL skills while staying true to their faith.

And while it took some determination as a teenager to help convince his parents he could go all the way, he is now helping to nurture more Muslim talent towards the highest level.

Bachar Houli set up the Bachar Houli foundation to encourage young Muslim talent to fulfil their dreams of pursuing AFL as a future career. Credit: Bilal Ali / Bachar Houli Foundation

"There was a barrier between us and our parents. They came to this country for one thing and that was education — education and no sport," he told SBS News.

"Today you see the parents that are my age and a little bit older fully supporting their young children to go out and play and get active and integrate into society."

Currently only one Muslim is playing in the AFL men's competition, Carlton's Adam Saad.

Similarly, Haneen Zreika is the only Muslim woman's player in the AFL women's competition, AFLW.

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Retired AFL star Bachar Houli nurturing young talent

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In the past 15 years, only three Muslim men have donned the professional AFL guernsey — "an under-representation" of the Muslim talent available on the market, according to Houli.

"The talent we have in our community is far greater than just that and I want to see this youth take it to the next level," he said.

Down Under to Dubai

Houli, headed by his foundation, led a dozen 15 to 18-year-old Muslim footballers to the United Arab Emirates for an elite performance camp, using some of the best sporting facilities in the world.

A documentary on the trip captured the experience of the teenagers as they strive to become leaders not just on the football field, but also as followers of Islam.

Headed by the Bachar Houli Foundation, a group of young men travelled to the United Arab Emirates for a cultural and sporting program to provide personal development, AFL and leadership training. Credit: Bilal Ali / Bachar Houli Foundation

"This program offers so much to our youth growing up from a football perspective, from a leadership perspective and from a cultural and religious identity perspective as well," he said.

"It's not about the end results, it's about them reaching the highest level in their football. It's about them reaching their maximum potential in life in general."

The boys received tuition from a range of Muslim talent, including Houli, former St Kilda player Ahmed Saad and the foundation's co-founder and general manager, Ali Fahour.

One of the participants of the program, Amin Naim, said of all staff, players and parents, he and his brother are the only Muslims at Strathmore Football Club.

"We are the only Muslims there and at times you are the odd one out," Naim said.

"When everyone is at the club having a beer or celebrating a win I am usually not there. I'm probably never there because I've got more important things to do like pray, spend time with my family."

Amin Naim (far right) is alongside fellow participants of the Bachar Houli Foundation elite performance program. Credit: Bilal Ali / Bachar Houli Foundation

These were experiences Houli said he felt too when he was growing up. Now he carries hope that, in the next decade, there will be more inclusivity in the game he loves dearly.

"I can remember when I was growing up we didn't have that comfort where you enter a local club or a regional club and feel proud of your identity."

Naim said travelling to Dubai with Houli and his teammates was an "unbelievable" experience that he will "never, ever forget".

"We've learnt the importance of preparing well for games and training, how to recover, the importance of good leadership qualities in everyday life, our prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and the importance of prayer, and so much more really."

The team played for the first time overseas against AFL Middle East on their sixth day of the program. Credit: Bilal Ali / Bachar Houli Foundation

Together as a team, Houli believes his foundation will widen the goalposts for more diverse talent to enter the space where Muslims feel often they are out of place.

"When I was growing up I didn't have this sort of program. Hopefully they can walk away from this program being proud Australian Muslims and better footballers, ultimately."