Inspiration - The Muslim and the Jew who prove that sport continues to break down the barriers
Last updated 25/05/2009 13:54:38
The Muslim and the Jew who prove that sport continues to break down the barrriers
There was an important fight that passed by almost unnoticed at the Blue Horizon Arena in Philadelphia last week when Achmad Tuba from Palestine outpointed Vincent Batteast of the USA in his first professional fight.
But for the American magazine The Ring, known to all as boxing's bible, it would have disappeared amongst the records of the many bouts taking place round the globe on the same day.
This one was different for Tuba is a Muslim from Nazareth in Northern Israel and his coach is Ranny Tal, a Jew who operates out of the Combined Martial Arts Gym in Tel Aviv.
Two years ago Tuba travelled the two and a half hour bus journey from his home to the gym where he asked for the renowned Tal and told him he wanted to become a professional fighter.
The Palestinian and the Jew have former a firm bond and over the two years Tal trained his boy, readying him for his debut in America – an event which almost didn't happen.
Waiting in line at Ben Gurion Airport Tuba was suddenly pulled out by two security guards who put him through the mill with a storm of questions and a humiliating strip search which took two hours, leaving the angry Tal wondering if they would ever leave the airport, never mind reach America. Even he was threatened with arrest as he vented his anger.
It is, I promise, intimidating. I was pulled out of line and questioned for a long time when I was in the Israeli capital covering Great Britain in the Davis Cup. I was working for the News of the World, a Sunday paper so my work was finished on Saturday night and I made my way home on Sunday morning. They simply couldn't understand why I would leave a sporting event before it finished. Something I rarely did but I had another appointment back home.