Renowned football coach Patrice Baumel, who leads the Mouloudia Algiers football club, has embraced Islam, adopting the name Amir.
A widely circulated video on social media shows Baumel reciting the Shahadah, the Islamic declaration of faith, with the guidance of an Imam at the Jnan Mabrouk Mosque in El Harrach, Algeria.
The Imam attributed Baumel’s conversion to the steadfastness of the people of Gaza amidst ongoing conflict, which inspired him to learn more about Islam.
Following his declaration of faith, the Mouloudia Club of Algeria celebrated his decision, posting on X, “Praise be to God… Welcome, Amir Boumel, to the religion of truth.”
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In a recent match against Parado Club, Mouloudia Algiers fans chanted, “God is great, Amir Boumel”, to which Baumel responded with a Sajdah Al Shukr (prostration of gratitude).
The 46-year-old coach has an impressive career, having coached the Zambian and Côte d’Ivoire national teams and served as an assistant to French coach Herve Renard.
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