He fled his country with his child in his arms and was rudely welcomed when he tried to run from Hungarian authorities at the border and a Hungarian reporter tripped him. The incident sparked outrage against the reporter who has since been fired from her job and prompted many to try to find out the identity of the man and his son who were wronged.
The man was identified as Osama Abdul Mohsen when he made it to Germany. As it turned out, he was a professional soccer coach for the Syrian first division team Al-Fotuwain in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour. He was fleeing with his two sons. According to reports, Mohsen has been welcomed in Spain where he will be supported by the CENAFE soccer school, a private soccer coaching school based in Getafe.
Reports say that when the president of Spain's National Soccer Coach Training Center (CENAFE), Miguel Angel Galán, learned of the mistreatment and plight of this refugee who was also a fellow soccer man, he immediately made arrangements for Mohsen to be relocated to Spain.
The school's director, Conrado Galán, was also full heartedly on-board to help a fellow soccer coach in need.
“We are a center for coaches and we like to help everyone who works in this area,” he told the Spanish newspaper, El País.
Using part of the school's annual budget for publicity to cover the costs, all of Mohsen's travel expenses to Madrid were paid for and he has been offered housing for his family in Getafe. As well, his living expenses will be paid for until he can begin working again.
An Arabic-speaking student from the school met Mohsen and his sons, seven-year-old Zaid, and 18-year-old Mohhmad in Germany and the four traveled via train to their new home in Spain.
“This is a dream come true,” Mohsen told reporters in Barcelona before stepping onto their next and last train to Madrid.
Although it certainly is a happy turnaround for Mohsen and his boys, the family is still waiting to be reunited with the rest of their family. Mohsen's wife and other family members are still in Turkey and CENAFE has promised to help him work with authorities to let them apply for asylum and join him in Spain.
The help will not stop there. In time, CENAFE also hope to let Mohsen continue working as a soccer coach at their school.
“As soon as he learns Spanish, we plan to offer him a job at our organization,” Galán said.
Be sure to follow T-Lounge on Twitter and visit our Facebook page.
