Ruins, soldiers, blackberries, cancellations of matches – the 99-time national basketball player Rasid Mahalbasic (33) of Austria has had enough of Libya after a short time and wants to leave Benghazi as soon as possible! Now the Austrian embassy should help him from the crisis country…
According to the federal ministry, travel warning level six is in effect in Libya and Austrians are asked to leave the country. However, one person has been there for a good week: ex-basketball player Mahalbasic.
The Carinthian experienced his first days at his new club Al Ahly Benghazi (where he signed a lucrative one-month contract) with gallows humor.
“I was told that no one has been killed here in Benghazi since 2020. At least there have been no deaths in the last four years…’ said the 99-time Austrian former international, adding, shaking his head: ‘Here you can buy everything on the black market – hand grenades, machine guns. Really crazy.”
Lots of poverty and misery
There is much poverty and misery along the streets; ruins can be seen everywhere. “Life here is an absolute disaster,” sighs Mahalbasic after several local visits.
Bottles thrown
And now, after playing just four games, the 33-year-old regrets joining the crisis-ridden African country. “We had already stopped the match because an opponent – in a Muslim country provocatively grabbing his crotch – was thrown at what felt like 500 bottles by spectators and was injured. “The police and the army then intervened,” Mahalbasic said.
“And recently our coach and I were attacked by our fans after a defeat – they broke down a door and threatened to kill us. Security had to intervene again, luckily nothing happened!”
“Barbaric conditions”
Of course, the Klagenfurt Center is now thinking about flights. “I am writing an email to the Austrian embassy and want to leave again on Saturday. But I also hope that I can get my passport back at all. Of course I did it because of finances, but the conditions here are barbaric. It’s the first time I’ve regretted a transfer…”
Source: Krone
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