Half the kids, Interview with Abed Al-Rahamam

When I arrived to the Qas Qas courts a little before nine o'clock it was already quite apparent that we were gonna' be missing some GAM3 participants due to the ongoing political situation here in Lebanon. In fact, by mid-practice it looked as if the attendance had been halved. We had taken a hit across the board and were lacking in all age groups, both male and female, not exactly a welcome sight.

None-the-less, we got things going by shooing away the group of football players who occasionally mistake the basketball court for a soccer field and got the drills under way. Since Rabiah hadn't yet arrived, Big Mohammed began by having the older boys dribble along the out-of-bounds line around the perimeter of the full court. Soon afterwards, Mac got the call that Coach Rabiah had been in a car accident. He was unharmed, but wouldn't be making it to the practice. I guess if there were a day to be shorthanded, Sunday was it.

I moved to the girls court and watched as they played a version of the game Keep Away. They stood in a circle lobbing chest passes while a girl in the middle bounced from side to side in an attempt to snag any misplaced ball. There were two girls who hadn't been with us for all that long, no more than two weeks, and though they were a little out of step the more experienced ones were helpful, showing them the correct way to hold their body and hands while lunging into the air or digging low for the bounce pass. That's team work!

Speaking to two young ladies last Sunday, I decided to talk to one of the boys this week and see what he had to say. His name is Abed Al-Rahamam, age 12 and hails from the Shateela Palestinian Refugee Camp. He says his favorite basketball team is Riyadi and that his favorite music is "Rap Music." He's stout young guy who rarely misses a practice, and what he lacks in speed he makes up for in effort and a keen ability to pick things up quickly.

Miguella Guerilla: How do you feel physically since playing basketball with GAM3? Healthier?

Abed Al-Rahamam: I feel normal, not necessarily healthier.

MG: How about you boys, do you generally get along?

Abed Al-Rahamam: We are good. If we fight it's only for the ball.

MG: If you could be anything when you grow up, what would you do?

AA: I'd play in the NBA. My brother went for a tryout, but didn't make it.

MG: I didn't know you could just try out. Good for him. When you're older, let's pretend you got a job that asked that you move from Lebanon, would you do it?

AA: Only if it was for the NBA, but my brother is in Sweden and I would go where ever he tells me to go.

MG: If you had one wish for Lebanon what would you wish for?

AA: For peace.

MG: What if you had one wish, but only could use it for yourself, what would you do?

AA: I'd use it see my brother in Sweden. He's 21.

Abed is in the middle of the frame about to receive a pass.