The Bachar Houli Academy is set to play its second official game in Victoria's elite talent pathway on Sunday.
For the first time in 2026, the Bachar Houli Academy has taken part in the Talent League, providing Muslim footballers with an insight into the demands of a high performance environment.
The Academy lost its first game to GWS Academy by 84 points but as with all talent pathway programs, the scoreboard was not a focus and the significance of the game was better reflected by the growth of the squad. Fourteen players were making their Talent League debuts.
“A significant part of the Bachar Houli Academy is to represent ourselves and who we are and gives players a chance to experience the intensity and professionalism of Talent League football," Bachar Houli Academy programs co-ordinator Mutaz El Nour told Zero Hanger.
"A lot of our boys might not be in Talent League programs but for them to get exposure playing against the best junior talent across Australia is pretty cool. Giving those boys the opportunity to showcase their skills is pretty cool."
Established in 2012 by 232-game AFL player Bachar, the academy aims to develop young leaders in the Muslim community and has steadily grown as a pathway for the Islamic community to pursue football.
The foundation has reached more than 40,000 participants across Australia since its inauguration, with unofficial practice games against Talent League clubs Western Jets and Calder Cannons in recent years serving as important steps in the growth of football in the Muslim community.
The program is broken into junior (12-14-years-old) and senior (15-18-years-old) academies with the Talent League side selected from the senior academy.
Former 33-game St Kilda player Ahmed Saad coaches the side, while Houli is a key part, emphasising the key pillars around footy to help grow members holistically.
“Bachar's huge as the founder. He represented us well when he played. He's a role model and is always present at our programs," Saad told Zero Hanger.
"Having him around and his experience from a leadership, mentorship and identity point of view is huge for the players. That's what he focuses on. He says to the players ‘you've all got lots of coaches to develop your footy, I want to help you become the best person and best Muslim you can be' so he's always amazing and present with the boys so he's heavily invested."
Essendon small forward Hussien El Achkar and Fremantle's Adam Sweid last year became the first Bachar Houli Academy graduates to land on AFL lists.
They follow Houli, Adam Saad, Saad El-Hawli, Sedat Sir, Ahmed Saad and Adem Yze as Muslims to have played in the AFL.
Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy prospect Khaled El Souki – who captained the side in the first game - and Essendon Next Generation Academy prospect Blake Justice are tipped to follow in their footsteps this year. Fellow Bombers-tied prospect Moustafa Darwish could follow them next year.
Sweid's Fremantle teammates each supported the first year player through Ramadan earlier this year by giving something up during the teenager's 30-day fasting period.
That embrace of culture from the AFL community is something which has grown steadily with Houli's work pioneering the way for future Muslims to feel comfortable pursuing a career in the AFL industry. The three-time Richmond premiership player was a key contributor to the MCG and Marvel Stadium establishing prayer rooms.
“We know how important our faith is and the challenges it comes with at times if you're in an environment where the faith isn't known but having Bachar at Richmond has opened people's eyes and catered to Muslims needs," El Nour noted.
El Nour, who has been on the cusp of an AFL list for many years and has carved a successful VFL career at Richmond, came through the Bachar Houli Academy, as did Tigers VFL teammate Mohammed Yassine.
Neither played in the Talent League, with access to facilities through the Bachar Houli Academy critical for both men in reaching VFL level via non-traditional pathways.
“The academy helped me in so many different ways. Not only my football but delving more into my faith. Five to six years ago, I wasn't a talkative person and couldn't talk in front of a crowd but having access to leadership sessions really helped me and staying in touch with my football by having access to people like Bachar Houli and Ahmed Saad was so important because I never played Talent League games,” said El Nour, who spoke with great eloquence and passion about the Academy.
Amin Naim and Mahmoud Taha are other Bachar Houli Academy graduates who have progressed to the state league.
The academy has frequent sessions but do not train weekly like Talent League programs and there is a much more holistic focus.
“At the foundation we care about the players on and off the field," Saad said.
“We want to make them the best leaders off the field alongside making them good footballers. A good career can last 10 years but off field can last a lifetime so leadership and cultural identity sessions are provided to make them proud Australian Muslims.
“Football development and mental peak performance are other pillars we hone in on to make them the best person off field and best footballer on-field.”
Former Western Jets assistant coach and current Newport senior coach Ali Hamad has seen significant gains in the professionalism and standard of Muslim footballers as the Bachar Houli Academy has grown.
A pioneer in the Muslim coaching space, he has been involved in coaching since 2011 after arriving in Australia as a three-year-old in 1998 and said the Muslim community has “complete and utter trust” in the Bachar Houli Academy.
“It's helped a lot because it has given us a platform where in the past were scattered around at different clubs and being first generations footballers, we didn't have parents or grandparents who were club legends anywhere - now we're paving our own way,” Hamad told Zero Hanger.
Hamad's Newport side is a majority Muslim local club, so he appreciates the importance of nurturing the wider Muslim community.
Dallas Football Club, established in 2024, is another majority Muslim club. The existence of those clubs is significant as it encourages members of the community who may not otherwise play to take part and word of mouth is a significant driver of sports participation in the Muslim community.
As El Nour points out, traditionally, soccer is more popular with the Muslim community but the Bachar Houli Academy has grown the appeal of Aussie rules.
“It's one of the most passionate and unique football clubs in Australia,” Hamad said of Newport.
“I've seen the preparation and IQ lift a notch since we've been educated better around the game itself, whether it's preparing your body or how important defence is to footy and recovery which has all made a massive difference to our boys.”
“The passion is second to none and we're trying to channel that in our senior program. The program has taught us about preparation and what it takes to play AFL from a body and mindset point of view and one of the positives has been that coaches have been involved and then come back to local clubs and implemented components of what they are learning.
“The benefit is not just being felt by members of the Bachar Houli foundation, but the wider Muslim and footy community.”
The Bachar Houli Academy takes on Tasmania at North Hobart Oval at 1.30pm on Sunday.
El Souki, overlooked for selection in Vic Metro's third game of the Under-18s National Championships on Friday as he builds his loads back after an injury layoff, will captain the side, while Darwish is also an important leader and has been in strong Talent League form.
"I'm excited we're close to full strength and the boys will play with a lot of belief. We've got all our Talent League boys playing so I'm excited to see what they can do," Saad said.
"A lot of players were nervous for the first game so know they know the level, they can improve a little bit. As long as they represent themselves well on and off the field we'll be happy."
