BUDAPEST,
January 18, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – Hungarian Muslims are planning
soccer friendly games in Sudan next month to raise funds for
re-opening a much-needed hospital to cater for the poor.
"Sport
is a peaceful activity, Islam is a religion of peace, let us organize
friendly games to build peace and show the peacefullness of Islam to
the outside world," Zoltan Bolek, President of the Hungarian
Islamic Community (HIC) which organizes the games, told IslamOnlie.net
Wednesday, January 18.
Hungary's
Budapest Honved team is planned to play five friendly games in Sudan
to help raise necessary funds (estimated at 200,000 euros) to reopen a
three-storey closed hospital downtown Khartoum.
Bolek,
who reverted to Islam 27 years ago, said that the Hungarian Muslim
efforts were a sign of solidarity and national pride.
"Solidarity
because Muslims are brothers and are supposed to help each
other," Bolek said.
"It
is also a national pride because Hungary is a small country, and
Muslims make up only small minority within this small country, still
they are ready to help, sometimes even over their normal
capabilities."
The
charity funds will be allocated for restoring the delapelated
building, which belongs to the Sudanese Umm El-momineen Charity, and
buying necessary medical equipment.
Famed
Players
Famed
Hungarian players of the good old days like Gyula Grosics will
accompany the HIC mission.
"Our
prime goal is to help those in dire need," retired striker Lajos
KU told IOL.
Bolek
also said the Sudanese suggested to hold the games in honour of
Hungary's legend footballers like Ferenc Puskas, who trained Egypt's
Zamalek team in the past.
He
noted that internal troubles had made it difficult for the Hungarian
national team to come to Sudan.
Bolek
further said the Sudanese Ministry of Sport will cover the expenses of
the five games.
"These
friendly games present another chance to further deepen
Hungarian-Sudanese relationship."
Sudanese
Imams
Bolek
said that he will tackle with Sudanese scholars the possibility of
dispatching imams to Hungary to educate Muslims about their religion.
It
is also planned to have Hungarian Muslims travel to Sudan to study
Arabic and Islam, he added.
The
HIC was established in 1988. It was then the first Muslim organization
in the then Communist central European country.
The
HIC has sent five relief missions to Sudan’s troubled region of
Darfur region, in addition to several others to tsunami-hit Aceh
province, Indonesia, war-torn Iraq, Bosnia and recently Kashmir.
