Richmond extends its thoughts and well wishes to Bachar Houli, his mother Yamama, and the extended Houli family, as Yamama continues treatment in ICU for COVID-19.
The entire Club and its members are thinking of the Houli’s at this challenging time.
“As a Club, we’re continuing to offer Bachar and his family the support they need at this time, and we all hope Yamama recovers from COVID-19 soon,” Richmond’s General Manager – Football Performance, Tim Livingstone said.
The Club encourages anyone with flu-like symptoms to get tested, and to continue to adhere to Government and medical advice.
The 2019 Virgin Australia AFL All-Australian shared the news on his social media accounts on Monday in the hope it might persuade more people to get tested, particularly in the Muslim community.
"I want to share a personal experience with the current situation we're all facing with this COVID-19," Houli said in his video.
"My family's been affected by COVID-19 and it's been a tough time, when you're restricted and you're isolated and it's very touching.
"More specifically, my mother's been affected a lot. She's currently in ICU undergoing some heavy treatment and the team in ICU is taking care of her.
"Her current state is a mixed one. God knows best her situation but what burns and what hurts truly is the fact no one from her family members can go and visit, which is very, very tough.
"Please put yourself in this position. I don't want you to feel sorry for me but rather think about it in general and think about it as it being you and part of your family, and hopefully you can change your mindset about COVID-19.
"The reality is it is out there and I'm experiencing it right now within my family. Please, I urge you, for the sake of Allah, to go get tested.
"If you're showing any form of symptoms, if you're not showing any symptoms, please do your bit."
Houli pleaded with the Muslim community to "think about the blessing that this state has provided us" in allowing them to practise their religion, and to show gratitude by self-isolating and following Government advice.
"All they want from us, from me and you, is to follow protocols as best we can, so please, go get tested, do your bit. I'm doing my bit, you do your bit," he said.
"I've been tested over 30 times, being a current AFL player, and that's the protocols and we had to tick the box. It tickles a little bit, it doesn't hurt, it's a very quick procedure.
"Please go to the nearest place and get tested, and do your best to isolate, and we will do our best to wipe out this current pandemic."
