Each Thursday we want to put the spotlight on a person involved with goalball – from players, officials to coaches, or anyone!
Each Thursday we want to put the spotlight on a person involved with goalball – from players, officials to coaches, or anyone!We want to use our online platforms so the Goalball Family can get to know each other a bit better ahead of getting back on the court and playing our sport again!
This week we caught up with Bilal Hussain!
What club do you play for or coach?
I play for Nottinghamshire Sheriffs.
How did you discover goalball?
I played a little bit when I was at Loughborough College but it wasn’t really ‘proper’ goalball. Then, just before I was due to start at Nottingham Trent University, I was at Sight Village in Birmingham and I spoke to Kathryn on the Goalball UK stand. She told me about the Nottinghamshire Sheriffs and put me in touch with Hannah Webber.
Is there a particular song, artist or genre that you listen to before a tournament to get in the mood? Or anything you’re loving at the moment?
On the way to tournaments, we like singing along in the car to “What does the fox say”?! I also remember making everyone laugh at our Christmas party one year as I was singing Christmas songs but didn’t know the words so was just making them up!
Do you have any pre-game superstitions or rituals?
I double check that I’ve got my water bottle as I’ve been known to forget it on many occasions!
What is your favourite post-match meal?
Fish and chips is my favourite meal but, after a tournament, it’s usually a service station stop on the way home so maybe something from Burger King or the Noodle Bar.
Which goalball player do you admire the most and why?
It’s got to be our coach and club lead, Hannah Webber. She gives so much. She is really helpful and just lovely!
Outside of goalball, what other hobbies/sports do you do?
I enjoy running. I’ve done a few Joe Wicks workouts during lockdown but other than that I’ve been a bit lazy so I’m looking forward to getting back to parkrun
Finally, what place, anywhere in the world, is on your bucket list to visit and why?
I would really like to go to Canada as everyone who has been says it is such a nice place. I went on a Caribbean cruise at the start of 2020 which was great.
