Book Review – Fighting for Hakeem

Originally published on 29th October 2019, the book was co-Authored by Craig Foster and Alex Engel-Mallon.

Fighting for Hakeem is the story about how, in 2019, a community came together to save the life of one Football player that had been imprisoned whilst on a honeymoon in Thailand. And how people power, through both social and news media platforms worked together, with the assistance of several sporting organisations, Government bodies and a few celebrities to ultimately free him.

First up, I’d like to clarify that I’m not a football fan. In fact, I don’t really follow most sports except for maybe the occasional Olympic event such as gymnastics or synchronised swimming. But when something also comes under the topic of human rights, then that perks my interest, and I think that’s why this book grabbed my attention.

As I don’t always have time to sit down to read books nowadays, I listened to this book through Audible. Initially, listening to this book, I found it challenging. The early chapters included a lot of thanking this, that and the next person or group or organisation. And although this initially felt like a lot of brown nosing to me, I later realised that with so many people coming together to help this one individual, that perhaps this was the only way the Authors knew how to show their deep gratitude to all involved.

The book breaks down into great detail what happened. After the initial thanking of everyone involved, the book tells of the life of a very young Hakeem, his love of football and the political conflict that happened in his country, getting him caught up with false accusations about crimes he didn’t do.

As Hakeem matured into a young adult, his dreams were to play in a major league football team and so he came to Australia applying for refugee status.

From here on in, I’m working on memory as Fighting for Hakeem was 3 books ago, so some of this information may not be 100% accurate, but I’m hoping it gives you the gist of what happened.

I don’t think it matters if I mention “spoilers” as this was a real-life event not a fictional piece. Everything about Hakeem, at some point, has been viewed on news media platforms around the globe. Just Google “Hakeem Soccer Player” and you’ll find 10+ pages of results.

So anyway, he meets a woman… I can’t remember whether it was in his home country or Australia, they get married then when Hakeem thinks he gets the ‘all clear’, then goes on a belated honeymoon with his wife. Due to some confusion with Australian customs, news spreads that Hakeem has left Australia and has gone to Thailand.

Because of this confusion, Interpol believes that Hakeem is wanted and goes after him, also setting up red flags in his home country who has wanted him for many years because of the false charges laid against him.

Here’s where basically everyone starts getting involved over time. With Hakeem now stuck in a Thailand prison, and Australia wanting their footballer back, the political fight for Hakeem’s freedom now begins to get complicated.

That’s when Craig Foster, one of the co-authors of this book pictured above, gets involved, and he starts sparking interest in the sporting community as well as on social media platforms such as Twitter, now known as X, and also Facebook.

The book then goes into greater detail how everyone came onboard to fight for Hakeem’s freedom and ultimately win his freedom in the end.

Once you get past the sporting side of the story and just listen (or read) to the battle for human rights for this one individual, you’ll find this a very inspiration and uplifting book.

Hakeem has played for various teams in Victoria since 2015, and since 2022 has played for St Albans Saints in NPL Victoria. He also holds a permanent position as Community and Human Rights Advocate with Football Victoria.

“Fighting for Hakeem” can be found as a physical book, digital or audio book.

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