BEIRUT: Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanon’s powerful Shia movement Hezbollah, is rarely seen in public and known mostly for the group’s military exploits — but he’s also a football fan.
In an interview published by Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar newspaper yesterday, Nasrallah spoke at length about Israel, Syria and the Palestinians, but also revealed a few personal tidbits, including his long-time love for the beautiful game. He also discussed his favourite foods, what books he is reading and denied claims that he lives in a bunker because of threats to his life.
“I love football, and I used to play it with friends,” he told the newspaper, which is close to Hezbollah.
In the past, he told the daily, he used to follow football “for fun and as a change of pace”.
“I supported Brazil most of the time, and sometimes Argentina, particularly during (Diego) Maradona’s time. I liked the way he played.”
Nasrallah said he hadn’t watched much of this year’s World Cup, which swept up most of Lebanon in football fever, because of the conflicts in Iraq, Syria
and Gaza. But he said he had watched part of the final that pitted Germany against Argentina “for my son’s sake”. “Since he was supporting Germany, I decided to support Argentina to create a bit of suspense,” he said.
The decision ended up being a misstep for the powerful leader, reviled as the head of a “terrorist” group by many in the international community, but beloved by his supporters in Lebanon.
Germany bested Argentina with a single goal. The interview provided other rare insights into the personal life of the 53-year-old, who has three sons and a daughter. He told the newspaper he hasn’t driven a car since 1986, has forgotten most of the English he used to speak and avoids mobile phones and the Internet for security
reasons. He said he had become used to switching sleeping places on a regular basis, particularly since the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, but denied that he was in hiding, or lived in a bunker.
“I don’t live in a bunker. The point of security measures is that movement be kept secret, but that doesn’t stop me from moving around and seeing what is happening,” he said.
AFP
