MCC and Bachar Houli Foundation celebrate 2026 Iftar Dinner
The Melbourne Cricket Club Foundation and the Bachar Houli Foundation are delighted to have welcomed more than 320 guests to the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the 2026 Bachar Houli Foundation (BHF) Iftar Dinner.
The BHF Iftar dinner is held annually during the month of Ramadan, bringing together guests from a variety of sports, communities and faiths in the spirit of connection and shared understanding.
Ramadan, the ninth and most sacred month in the Islamic calendar, is a time of reflection, gratitude and spiritual discipline for Muslims. Those observing Ramadan fast from sunrise to sunset, then break the fast with a communal meal known as Iftar.
“Our Iftar Dinners are a powerful way of bringing people together for a night of connection and harmony during the holy month of Ramadan,” BHF Founder and three-time Richmond Football Club premiership player Bachar Houli OAM said.
BHF Executive Director Ali Fahour addressed guests on the evening, speaking to the impact that sport and community partnerships can create.
“These events are a powerful reminder of what’s possible when sport and community combine with a shared purpose,” Fahour said.
One of the evening's highlights was a panel discussion led by award-winning journalist Paul Kennedy, which featured Bachar Houli Foundation graduate Hussien 'Huss' El Achkar.
Paul and Huss recently collaborated on the ABC documentary Playing on a Prayer, which follows Huss and close friend Adam Sweid (Fremantle Dockers) on their journey to the AFL with the help of their families, faith and the Bachar Houli Foundation.
Huss has been involved with the Bachar Houli Foundation since the age of 12, progressing through the organisation’s Junior Academy before transitioning into its elite pathways program. He would go on to represent the Calder Cannons, Essendon Football Club’s Next Generation Academy and Vic Metro, before being selected at pick No.53 in the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft.
Huss is set to make his debut this Friday in Essendon’s Round 1 match against Hawthorn at the MCG, a full-circle moment for a player who has grown through the Bachar Houli Foundation’s programs and a powerful example of the pathways sport can create.
The MCC would like to congratulate Huss on his selection and wishes him the best for his debut.
About the Bachar Houli Foundation
Since 2019, the MCC, through the MCC Foundation, has partnered with the Bachar Houli Foundation (BHF), supporting the organisation’s work to create opportunities for young Muslims through sport, education and leadership development.
Founded by former Richmond premiership player Bachar Houli, the Bachar Houli Foundation delivers programs that engage thousands of young people each year, using sport as a platform to build confidence, connection and pathways for the next generation.
