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.
"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.