Kanoute saves Spain masjid
Footballer and the masjid: Reverted to Islam 10 years ago, Fre{aac}de{aac}ric "Fredi" Kanoute{aac}, the striker of Spain's Seville FC, has saved the only masjid in the southern Spanish city of Seville from closure. Picture: 4 the Game
Friday, December 21, 2007
MALIAN Muslim footballer Fre{aac}de{aac}ric "Fredi" Kanoute{aac}, the striker of Spain's Seville FC, has saved the only masjid in the southern Spanish city of Seville from closure. Kanoute{aac} has paid €510,860 (some US$700,000) so that fellow Muslims in Seville would not find themselves without a masjid, the media reported recently.
The privately owned masjid was due to be sold after a contract to use the premises by the local Muslim population had expired. But Kanoute{aac} stepped in to purchase the building. The Islamic Community of Spain confirmed that a last-minute appeal was made to Kanoute{aac} after the mosque had been put up for sale.
The 30-year-old striker has not made any comment on the matter. But city authorities have confirmed that the property has been registered in Kanoute{aac}'s name, according to BBC Sport. It is estimated that Kanoute{aac} has spent almost a year's salary to buy the masjid.
Kanoute{aac}, a finalist for 2007 BBC African Footballer of the Year award, moved in 2005 from French champion Lyon to Seville FC, the 2006-07 Spanish league's third and the holder of last season's cup championship.
Spanish Muslims said they really appreciate Kanoute{aac}'s moving gesture. "If it had not been for Kanoute then we would not have had a masjid on Fridays, which is the most holy day of the week for Muslims," a spokesman for the Islamic Community of Spain was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
Kanoute{aac}, who has also created a foundation in his motherland Mali to help orphans, reverted to Islam 10 years ago. Last Ramadan, he impressed Spanish football fans with his unique performance though he was fasting.
Kanoute{aac} was crowned last year the league's top scorer with 20 goals, outperforming football legends such as Brazilian Ronaldinho. Kanoute{aac}, a practising Muslim who regularly performs his prayers even in the locker room, refused last season to wear a jersey advertising for an Internet gambling site.
His team had to give him a brand-free jersey until he accepted wearing the sponsored jersey in return for money to an Islamic charity.
Born September 2, 1977 in Sainte-Foy-les-Lyon, near Lyon, Kanoute{aac}'s talents as a tall striker were first noticed by his local team, Olympique Lyonnais.
He joined them as an apprentice in 1997. He played for the French under-21 team while at the club. Kanoute{aac} joined English club West Ham United in 2000.
He went on to play 84 times for the East London club, scoring 29 goals. His speed and awareness attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur who bought him at the end of the 2002-03 season.
Although eligible for either, Kanoute{aac} elected to play for Mali rather than for France. Kanoute{aac} was joint top goal scorer for Mali at the 2004 African Nations Cup. He scored four goals in four matches helping Mali to the semifinals where they lost to Morocco.
Kanoute{aac} enjoyed mixed success at Tottenham, where he scored on his debut with an acrobatic volley, with occasional flashes of brilliance marked by apparent pique when he preferred the African Nations Cup over the Premiership. He went Awol from Tottenham's 2005 tour to Mauritius.
Kanoute{aac} was sold to Sevilla on August 17, 2005 for €6.5m. He was a second half substitute for the club in the UEFA Cup Final against Middlesbrough and scored in the 89th minute. Sevilla won 4-0.
Kanoute{aac}'s first game for Sevilla against Tottenham Hotspur resulted in him scoring a (somewhat controversial) penalty at the Sanchez Pijuan in a game marred by crowd trouble, and an excellent goal at White Hart Lane, leaving the final aggregate score 4-3 to Sevilla .
Islamonline
The privately owned masjid was due to be sold after a contract to use the premises by the local Muslim population had expired. But Kanoute{aac} stepped in to purchase the building. The Islamic Community of Spain confirmed that a last-minute appeal was made to Kanoute{aac} after the mosque had been put up for sale.
The 30-year-old striker has not made any comment on the matter. But city authorities have confirmed that the property has been registered in Kanoute{aac}'s name, according to BBC Sport. It is estimated that Kanoute{aac} has spent almost a year's salary to buy the masjid.
Kanoute{aac}, a finalist for 2007 BBC African Footballer of the Year award, moved in 2005 from French champion Lyon to Seville FC, the 2006-07 Spanish league's third and the holder of last season's cup championship.
Spanish Muslims said they really appreciate Kanoute{aac}'s moving gesture. "If it had not been for Kanoute then we would not have had a masjid on Fridays, which is the most holy day of the week for Muslims," a spokesman for the Islamic Community of Spain was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
Kanoute{aac}, who has also created a foundation in his motherland Mali to help orphans, reverted to Islam 10 years ago. Last Ramadan, he impressed Spanish football fans with his unique performance though he was fasting.
Kanoute{aac} was crowned last year the league's top scorer with 20 goals, outperforming football legends such as Brazilian Ronaldinho. Kanoute{aac}, a practising Muslim who regularly performs his prayers even in the locker room, refused last season to wear a jersey advertising for an Internet gambling site.
His team had to give him a brand-free jersey until he accepted wearing the sponsored jersey in return for money to an Islamic charity.
Born September 2, 1977 in Sainte-Foy-les-Lyon, near Lyon, Kanoute{aac}'s talents as a tall striker were first noticed by his local team, Olympique Lyonnais.
He joined them as an apprentice in 1997. He played for the French under-21 team while at the club. Kanoute{aac} joined English club West Ham United in 2000.
He went on to play 84 times for the East London club, scoring 29 goals. His speed and awareness attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur who bought him at the end of the 2002-03 season.
Although eligible for either, Kanoute{aac} elected to play for Mali rather than for France. Kanoute{aac} was joint top goal scorer for Mali at the 2004 African Nations Cup. He scored four goals in four matches helping Mali to the semifinals where they lost to Morocco.
Kanoute{aac} enjoyed mixed success at Tottenham, where he scored on his debut with an acrobatic volley, with occasional flashes of brilliance marked by apparent pique when he preferred the African Nations Cup over the Premiership. He went Awol from Tottenham's 2005 tour to Mauritius.
Kanoute{aac} was sold to Sevilla on August 17, 2005 for €6.5m. He was a second half substitute for the club in the UEFA Cup Final against Middlesbrough and scored in the 89th minute. Sevilla won 4-0.
Kanoute{aac}'s first game for Sevilla against Tottenham Hotspur resulted in him scoring a (somewhat controversial) penalty at the Sanchez Pijuan in a game marred by crowd trouble, and an excellent goal at White Hart Lane, leaving the final aggregate score 4-3 to Sevilla .
Islamonline
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