Football: meet the 12-year-old star of Syrian football commentator Hazem al-Hossain

Hazem is a passionate commentator and now takes advantage of every opportunity to comment on gathering games after the game he loves has been suspended by the coronavirus.

His love for comments started when he was five years old, when he was watching a match between the Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, and has since preferred to comment on the game. And his focus remained on calling the action.

However, Al-Hossain does not support an individual team.

“I don’t support any team,” he explains. “Any commentator should be neutral. I don’t have to support any team.

“I love the Spanish championship, the English championship, the Italian and French championships. I love the game.”

When he cannot comment on his friends while playing, he comments on the video games his older brother plays instead.

“When I play PlayStation, he always sits next to me and starts commenting on the game,” says al-Hossain Mulham’s brother. “I wish him luck and would like to see him a famous commentator someday.”

Following the fan

Hazem records himself and uploads his videos to hundreds of online followers, and hopes one day to receive formal training.

One of his fans appreciates the lack of infrastructure to support people like Hazem: “His videos are very beautiful and he has a beautiful voice,” they explain. “We must remember that he is only 12 years old and in first grade.

“It’s nice that he has this talent, but the problem is that we don’t have academies here to support these children in order to improve them and train them to become commentators.

“There are no commentators in Syria.”

The authorities eased the blockade last week and allowed a wide range of professions and businesses to return to work.