Abdul Mohsen Khalaf with Asian Basketball Confederation recognition award 2000. By Umar Abdul Salam Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Ohud clinched the Saudi Basketball Federation League crown in Madina recently. And the man leading the club to another glory was none other than Abdul Mohsen Khalaf. Saudi Abdul Mohsen Khalaf has been playing basketball for Ohud in Madinah for over 30 years. The Saudi Basketball Federation believes that Abdul Mohsen, at 49, is the oldest basketball player in action in the world. They are in touch with the Guinness World Records to verify the claim. The oldest NBA player to call it a day was 46 years old Nat Hickey in 1948. He, however, only played one game that year. Currently the Dallas Mavericks' Kevin Willis, 45, is the oldest player in the NBA. Dan Gay, who is 46, plays for the Scavolini Pesaro in the Italian League. Abdul Mohsen is still the starting Guard for Ohud, not a bench-warmer. He was able to share his story with the Saudi Gazette recently. Abdul Mohsen was born in 1963 in Madinah. He started playing sports while still in school. He initially played handball until he entered secondary school where he started playing basketball. Playing in the school's basketball league he won his first prize, the best player award. He received a calculator. He joined Ohud at 15 and played on the cadet team. Abdul Mohsen started playing basketball in his neighborhood, where the kids would make the rim with steel bars that they would stick on the walls of their mud homes. The basketball courts at school and at Ohud were all outside courts or areas. He joined the first team at Ohud when he was 17. Even as a bench player he managed a few minutes of playing time. In 1985 Abdul Mohsen started playing for the Saudi national team. His first tournament was the 3rd Gulf Championship in Kuwait. While playing on the national team he won two Gulf Championships — one Arab League Championship and one King Abdullah of Jordan Championship, besides claiming third spot in the Asian Cup. Playing with Ohud Abdul Mohsen won four Gulf Championships, 14 Saudi League Championships, 12 Saudi Cup Championships, three Playoff Championships and one Olympic Championship. His best year was 1423 H. when Ohud won the League and the playoffs. Mohsen was selected Best Player, Highest Scorer and Best 3-Point Shooter in 1413, 1416, 1423, and 1424 H. competing against teams which had two professional foreign players. Off-court Abdul Mohsen said his relationship with people remains good. He always watched his step because he was a well-known figure. This gave him many friends at work as a teacher in a college. His advice to today's youth is to listen to their trainers, go to sleep early, eat home-cooked food, never smoke and respect your rivals. “You should enjoy playing basketball and not consider money as the only reward,” he said. Abdul Mohsen thanks God that he is in good health and that he is a Muslim. All the good things that came his way are from God first, and then his country, Ohud Club, and the people who helped him along the way. As for retirement, Abdul Mohsen said: “I will retire when I feel I cannot give any more.” __
