DEARBORN, Mich. – A Dearborn Fordson High School football coach made a special trip the U.S. capital this week.
Fouad Zaban was invited to join a select few other Muslim Americans and President Barack Obama at the annual Iftar dinner at the White House.
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"I was shocked that a high school coach and teacher at Fordson High School would be invited to such an event," Zaban said. "I was really amazed by it and I'm grateful for it."
The dinner celebrates the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a time when Muslims fast from dawn to sundown.
"That was unbelievable," Zaban said about the dinner. "I don't think any words can explain how it went yesterday."
The majority of the student athletes on Zaban's football team are Muslim. The team has been practicing at night to better accommodate players and coaches during Ramadan. They have been drawing attention both on and off the field.
Starting in September, a documentary, "Fordson: Faith, Fasting, and Football," that features the team is scheduled to open in theaters nationwide.
Zaban said the film and his trip to the White House have definitely made this a special year. He said he met a lot of dignitaries and was really taken aback by how genuine the President was.
"This is something that I would have never imagined in a million years," he said. "I feel blessed and honored. I thank the President and his staff for having me."
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