Bachar Houli issues unifying pandemic plea as he flies to Gold Coast hub
Bachar Houli is flying to Queensland to rejoin his Richmond teammates. The premiership star has provided an update on his mother’s health and issued a plea to all Victorians to unite against the pandemic.
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Richmond defender Bachar Houli has urged the public to put their differences aside in the fight against COVID-19 as he revealed his mother remains in intensive care in hospital.
Houli and his wife, along with their three young children, arrived at Melbourne Airport early this afternoon ahead of a flight to Queensland.
The family will go into a quarantine for two weeks before joining the Tigers’ hub on the Gold Coast.
Houli remained in Melbourne earlier this month ahead of the birth of his first son, Mohammed, and has also been dealing with his mother being critically ill.
However, Houli said he had the blessing of his father to leave the family in Melbourne and is excited to return to the field for the Tigers in coming weeks.
“She’s much better and that’s the main reason why I’m leaving, because it’s been massive improvement,” Houli said of his mother.
“She’s still in ICU at the moment, but everything’s functioning really well and the greatest thing is I’ve got my father’s blessing and that’s the most important thing.
“It was a bit scary of course, but more so it’s been an emotional time. I was talking to Dad before I left and he was very, very emotional, the fact that what he’s been going through, he can’t even see Mum. It’s very emotional for the family, but the great thing is we’re a big family, we stick strong and believe that things will get better.”
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Houli said community leaders all needed to do their bit and encourage people to follow the rules to keep the pandemic from spiralling out of control in Victoria.
“Not everyone is going to jump on board with certain things and there’s going to be difference of opinion with all cases and things that happen in life,” he said.
“So I can understand that and respect that, but the reality is we’ve all got to do our bit as leaders of the community.”
Houli said he had always planned to rejoin Richmond after Mohammed’s birth and had been training with some younger teammates who had remained in Melbourne as he eyes a return as soon as Round 12 against the Gold Coast Suns.
“Hopefully, if Dimma picks me,” Houli said.
“I’m ready to go and hopefully there’s no niggles from now to then, but I’m roaring to go. I’m light, I’m fit and I just want to get back and enjoy football.”
Fellow Tigers including Callum Coleman-Jones, Will Martyn and Luke English joined Houli on the flight north, which also included families of many Geelong players.
Britt Selwood, the wife of Geelong captain Joel Selwood, said she could not wait to be reunited with her husband.
“We’re pretty lucky to get up there and spend some time with the boys,” she said.
Geelong champion Patrick Dangerfield’s wife Mardi and their two young children were also on the flight.
A total of 400 family members are set to fly to Queensland today, including about 170 children.
Richmond’s dual premiership player and 2018 All-Australian Shane Edwards will remain in Melbourne, with his expectant wife yet to give birth.
However, the Tigers are hopeful he too will join them on the Gold Coast in the not-too-distant future – but will be “the last one up”.
“We’re pretty confident that he will (come up too), and he wants to,” senior club advisor Neil Balme said.
“But the priority is she needs some genuine support from him so he’s making sure that happens.”
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Originally published as Bachar Houli issues unifying pandemic plea as he flies to Gold Coast hub