The Bachar Houli Foundation (BHF) has proudly completed its inaugural AFL Talent League campaign, marking a significant milestone in the Foundation’s commitment to creating elite football pathways for emerging talent across Australia.
Earlier this year, the AFL announced that the Bachar Houli Foundation (BHF) would participate in the Talent League for the first time, with the Foundation granted two matches during the 2026 season. The opportunity provided the Foundation’s emerging footballers in the National Senior Boys Academy aged between 15 and 18-years-old with a valuable platform to showcase their talent and experience an elite pathway environment.
Featuring a squad of 28 participants from across Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia, the Foundation’s Talent League side showcased the depth of talent emerging through the Islamic community and its programs nationwide.
The campaign began in April when the BHF travelled to Blacktown International Sportspark to face the GWS GIANTS Academy where fourteen participants played their first-ever Talent League match, while the coaching staff also gained exposure to the level.
Head of Programs & High Performance Ahmed Saad said the opportunity itself represented a major achievement for the Foundation and its participants.
“The Bachar Houli Foundation as a collective is grateful for the opportunity ahead. The chance for our Academy participants to showcase their talent is extremely valuable to us,” Saad said.
Reflecting on the opening clash, Saad emphasised that the Foundation’s objectives extend beyond the scoreboard.
“While we were disappointed by the scoreboard, ultimately our objective goes beyond wins and losses. We walked away with a strong sense of pride in the way our boys conducted themselves both on and off the field.”
The inaugural squad featured several exciting prospects already making their mark in Talent League programs around the country. Western Jets forward Khaled El Souki entered the Foundation campaign in outstanding form, emerging as the competition’s leading goalkicker after the opening rounds of the season.
Fellow Jets player Ahmed Houli was also included, while Calder Cannons representatives Isa Merhi, Moustafa Darwish, Ahmad Abdallah, Jad Naim and Blake Justice brought further Talent League experience to the group.
The Foundation’s reach across Australia was highlighted by the inclusion of South Australian trio Zayd El-Hosni, Zain Baroudi and Ayman Ismail, Western Australian Riaz Mohammad, and New South Wales tall Muhammad Darwich.
Importantly, the Talent League platform continues to strengthen the Foundation’s reputation as a pathway to elite football. In recent years, former Academy participants Saad El-Hawli (Essendon), Hussien El Achkar (Essendon) and Adam Sweid (Fremantle) have all progressed to the AFL system through BHF academies.
In 2026, the Foundation saw two participants feature in the AFL National Championships for Victoria Metro, El Souki and Justice.
The Foundation’s second and final Talent League fixture saw the squad travel to North Hobart Oval to face the Tasmania Devils. Heading into the match, the group was buoyed by the return of several key contributors unavailable for the opening game, including WAFL participant Mohammad, alongside members of the Calder Cannons contingent.
Among those eager for the challenge was Cannons midfielder Darwish, who spoke about the significance of representing the Foundation and the opportunities it creates for players.
“The opportunity that the Bachar Houli Foundation has meant to me is seeing my mates get opportunities they might not have had at other Talent League clubs. It’s good to see them put their skills out there and show everyone what we know they’re capable of,” Darwish said.
The significance of the campaign extended far beyond results for Saad and the BHF. For many participants, it was their first opportunity to perform on a nationally recognised talent pathway stage and a valuable stepping stone towards elite talent pathways.
Most importantly, the Foundation’s inaugural Talent League campaign highlighted the growing depth of talent within its programs and reinforced the value of creating meaningful pathways for young Muslim athletes across the country.
