Saudi Arabia welcomes trilateral border treaty between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan    Trump prepares to unveil sweeping new US tariffs on 'Liberation Day'    At least 22 civilians killed in Israeli strike on UNRWA clinic in Gaza    UK says it won't jump into US trade war as Starmer urges calm response to tariffs    Russia, Ukraine trade fresh accusations of violating US-brokered energy ceasefire deal    Swedish table tennis legend Jörgen Persson appointed head coach of Saudi national team    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Over 1 million pilgrims benefit from golf cart service at Grand Mosque during Ramadan    Visitors welcomed with Eid initiative at Thee Ain Heritage Village in Al-Baha    Tebuk emir reviews rain response in Tayma    Saudi Arabia considers rent cap as part of major real estate reforms    Messi's bodyguard banned from touchline at Inter Miami games    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Haramain High-Speed Railway transports over 1.2 million passengers during Ramadan    Saudi Transport Authority says passengers can ride for free if taxi meters are off    Ministry of Education forms 425 community partnerships with SR653 million impact    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    T1 CEO confirms Gumayusi's return for LCK Spring after lineup shakeup    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Teenager, 14, keen to fight infiltrators
By Naif Masrahi
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 10 - 12 - 2009

“It is time to stand up and support our soldiers on the border.”
These were the words of 14-year-old Saudi teenager, Yousef Al-Safhi, Monday.
He had a real machine gun hanging from his shoulders which he said his late father gave him before he died.
“My father liked to collect different kinds of guns and knives. Before he died he gave this gun to me and told me to be a man because I would be the person responsible for looking after the family when he passed away,” said Al-Safhi.
Al-Safhi said his father died when he was eight. He then became responsible for looking after his mother and sisters.
Although Al-Safhi is only at intermediate level at school, he wanted to show he was a man.
He shook the hands of the Saudi Gazette team who arrived at his home for an interview. He then proceeded to offer local food, including Marsa (bananas with bread and honey), meat Kabsa and fresh milk.
After the meal, Al-Safhi demonstrated his shooting skills. Out on the land, he shot three birds using a hunting rifle.
“When Yousef was young he used to go on hunting trips with his father.
He also likes to clean and care for the guns of his father,” said Al-Safhi's uncle, Yahya.
His mother, Fatema Al-Gaiman, said that he is considered the father of the home.
“When Yousef comes from school, he usually goes to our farm in the east of the village to collect feed for our livestock. He is a useful and good boy even though he is still young,” said his mother.
She said that he also goes shopping with his uncle at the Ahad Al-Masareha market for food, clothes and water.
“He has the ability to deal with everyone in his village, young and old. Most of his relatives and people in the village love him,” she added.
Al-Safhi said he has been dreaming of fighting alongside his fellow countrymen on the border. He wants to offer something to the country he loves, he said.
“Yousef dreamt recently that he was fighting on the border with the Saudi military at Mount Dokhan and killed three infiltrators,” said his mother.
She said he has been telling his friends repeatedly that he will one day fight in the military.
Al-Safhi said that he saw on the Oprah Winfrey show that dreams can come true.
“When I watch the program I read the translation at the bottom of the screen, so I can understand what is being said.
Oprah said that if a person wants his dream to come true then he must keep thinking about it and then one day it will come true.”
“So I will continue to think about fighting in the Saudi military until I succeed,” he said.
Al-Safhi said he does not eat fast food, like burgers and fried chicken, because he dislikes the taste.
“I went to a big restaurant in Jizan city, and I ate a beef burger. It was very spicy and had a strange taste. I will never ever eat such food again,” he said.
“I like the food made by my mother and sister because it is fresh and tasty. It has vegetables like tomatoes and okra.”
When the interview was over, Al-Safhi gave the Saudi Gazette team some jasmine he had planted himself.


Clic here to read the story from its source.