Syrian refugee Osama Abdul Mohsen finds home, job in Spain

The Syrian refugee, Osama Abdul Mohsen, who became famous when images of him and his son being tripped by a Hungarian camerawoman were shown all over the world, gave thanks to Spain after he arrived at his new home in the country on Wednesday night.

Wednesday saw the end of a long journey which took Osama and Zaid from Syria to Spain, via Serbia, Hungary, Germany and France, where on Wednesday they boarded a train to Barcelona. From there they changed trains and continued to Madrid, arriving just after midnight to be taken to their new home.

As soon as the relevant paperwork has been completed, Osama, who was formerly the coach of a first division football team in Syria before the conflict in that country began, will begin work with the football academy Cenafe, in the town of Getafe. Cenafe will also pay the rent of his new flat in the middle of the town.

"We have a place for a teacher on our staff and we think he will be the ideal person to be able to teach people who will then go to work in the Middle East," explained Conrado Galan of the Cenafe center at a press conference in Getafe.

"No Spaniard will be able to do the job that we want him to do," added Galan.

Sara Hernandez, the Mayor of Getafe, explained at the conference that the authority had begun the paperwork to ensure that Osama and 7-year-old Zaid would have access to health care and any psychological help they needed and also for Zaid to begin school as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, she also explained that Osama's wife and two daughters had been located in Turkey and that plans were underway to unite the family in Getafe.

Osama's case has aroused massive public interest in Spain and following the conference, a crowd of reporters made their way to the door of his new home, where Osama and Zaid made a brief appearance.

He explained that he was not able to forgive the camerawoman for tripping him up as he carried Zaid in his arms: "that is not something that anyone should do to someone carrying a child."

"My first day in Madrid is fantastic and I am very happy: thank you all," he said, before reminding the dozens of journalists present that he was only one of tens of thousands of people fleeing the conflict.

"I want to thank the people of Spain and Getafe, but everyone needs to look at my people in Syria ... everyone in Syria needs help," he concluded.

Spain is to accept around 17,000 Syrian refugees in 2015, with 2,400 expected to be housed in the Madrid area. Endit