The Palestinian National team traveled to Dili, East Timor this week to continue their long road to World Cup qualification. East Timor may not sound like a football powerhouse, but the recent influx of Brazilians on the team has elevated the country to a period of unprecedented success. The first half was slow with very little action other than Palestine hitting the crossbar. The second half was far more exiting, with the East-Timoreans putting more and more pressure on the Palestinian goal. At the fifty fourth minute, sloppy Palestinian defending and a lack of concentration by Palestinian goalkeeper Toufic Ali resulted in Ramon Saro, one of the nationalized Brazilians, scoring an easy header. The Palestinians did not give up hope, and continually attacked the Timorean goal. One of the best chances of the game came from Imad Zatara, the avid Palestinian goal scorer playing his trade in Sweden, completely missing the goal from less than ten yards out. The attacking combination of Mahmoud Eid and Matias Jadue allowed for several more chances to be created, but the finishing was just not there. When it seemed all but over, one final push resulted in Ahmed Abu Nayeh scoring a last minute equalizer and forcing the game to a tie. Take nothing away from East Timor, who played a fantastic game and seemed like a completely different team than the one who were annihilated by Saudi Arabia last month, the Palestinians did not play as well as they should have. Palestinian coach Abdel- Nasser Barakat's tactics do not seem to be paying off as Palestine have only taken 2 points from the last two games. If Palestine have any real chance to taking the second place spot and being in the running to make it to the next round, they must get their act together with the remaining four games. They currently sit in the third place of Group A, two points behind the UAE who succumbed to a narrow loss to the Saudis. Saudi Arabia seem to have the group under their control, but the last four games could tell a different story. Special recognition must go out to East Timor for playing a solid match and making Palestine really fight for the point. East Timorean football hasn't looked this promising since A Barefoot Dream .
Matias Jadue, the Chilean born striker, battles for the ball during Palestine's first competitive home game in over three years. It was a relatively positive result which ended with a 0-0 tie with the UAE.
Next up, Palestine face a tough Saudi Arabian side who seem set to take first place in the group. Although originally scheduled to be played three days after the match with East Timor, the match against Saudi Arabia has been postponed due to a seemingly unavoidable political conflict. In short, the Saudi Arabian government refuses to recognize Israel and therefor refuse to enter the country, which is the only possible way to enter Palestinian territories. Although the PFA provided Saudi Arabia with alternatives such as the use of helicopters to enter Palestine, the Saudis continually refuse. Usually, refusal to play results in a forfeit and subsequent 3-0 loss, however FIFA has not gone this route but has instead have been playing to Saudi interests. The game has been indefinitely postponed until an ultimatum can be reached, most likely where the game will have to be played on a neutral ground. Saudi Arabia's antics are nothing new and they continually refuse Palestine their right to play on home soil in front of thousands of excited fans. There are both positive and negative implications with the postponement of the game. On a positive note, the Palestinians have avoided having to play a very exhausting Saudi team in such a short amount of time after their last game. However, the uncertainty on when the next game will be is detrimental to Palestine's foreign based players, coming from Chile, Sweden, and Slovenia. One can only hope the argument is solved quickly and FIFA upholds Palestine's right to play on home soil.
With four games in and four to go, these are the current standings in Group A.
Although Palestine's chances of World Cup qualification are very slim, the national team provides a source of pride for thousands of Palestinians, especially with the recent outbreak of violence spreading throughout the country. Recent claims of the "Third Intifada" being underway promises nothing but mass killings and uncontrolled violence. As a Palestinian, I hope to see the team playing on home soil and recreating the absolutely wild scenes from the UAE game a month ago. Best of luck to the Palestinian national team, and the other football minnows trying to reach their ultimate destination, a spot at Russia 2018.
The Palestinian national team took center stage last month as they started their long, difficult road to the World Cup in Russia in 2018. Asia's World Cup qualification is an extremely difficult process for the weaker teams who are usually paired up against much stronger opponents and eliminated very early on in the competition. A new format saw Palestine be drawn into a group with Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, East Timor, and the UAE. In June, Palestine played their first two games against the Saudis and Malaysia. This is Palestine's story of heartbreak, resilience, pride, and joy.
The very young, inexperienced Palestinian national team consisting of player from Sweden, Slovenia, and Chile.
First, the Palestinians faced the enormous, seemingly-impossible task of defeating the Saudis at their home. The Saudi team is much more experienced and consists of players who play in some of the world's top leagues, and was obviously confident they would not drop points to their far-weaker Arab counterparts. The game started terribly for the Palestinians. Five minutes in the Saudis scored and the possibility of an upset seemed all but over. Second half starts, and the Saudis find themselves another goal. The game seemed over, the Palestinians defeated. Chilean-Palestinian Pablo Tamburini thought otherwise and found the end of a cross to get the Palestinians right back in it. 2-1 down and less then two minutes left to play, the game was surely over. Saudi's goalkeeper though otherwise. An extremely stupid move saw the goalie give the ball straight to Chilean-Palestinian striker Matias Jadue who calmly sent the ball into the net and put the Palestinians on level terms. The Palestinians went berserk. Pure Euphoria. Against all odds, they managed to level the game against one of the strongest teams in Asia and their World Cup dream was still intact. There was just one problem. The game hadn't ended. The ref blew his whistle to start play for the last minute of stoppage time remaining and some horrendous defending led to utter heartbreak. The Saudis managed to score. The last kick of the game was the Saudi Arabian goal and the Palestinians were in shock. I, watching from a grainy live stream, could not believe my eyes. In a matter of seconds, pure euphoria turned to complete agony. It was heartbreaking to watch, but the Palestinians had done it to themselves.
Now, the Palestinians had to pick themselves up and try to get a win against a relatively strong Malaysian side. The two teams seemed evenly matched and the game could go either way. One advantage Malaysia had over the Palestinians was the home-field advantage, and the support of thousands of dedicated fans. Both teams had something to prove and this was their opportunity to make a name for themselves. The World Cup may still be a world away, but these game hold the same importance for these players as the World Cup final does for players like Messi. Palestine had a point to prove and needed the points to have any hope of advancing out of their group.
The Palestinians took to the field, and they did not disappoint. Goals rained into the Malaysian net, and the Palestinians found themselves up 3-0 by halftime. They were playing some of the best football in their entire history and seemed unstoppable. The Malaysians looked like boys among men, and could not withstand the sheer quality of the Palestinian players. Perhaps the most incredible story to come out of the game is that of Sameh Maraaba. The young Palestinian player was traveling with team almost a year ago, and was detained and unjustly imprisoned by Israeli Security forces. Strict travel restriction made this the norm for the Palestinians and it was assumed he would be quickly released. The young footballing hopeful found himself locked inside an Israeli prison for 8 months for absolutely no reason or evidence. After pressure by the international community, Israel finally released him and he was welcomed home as a hero. Imprisonment had taken its toll on Sameh and he was out of shape and not the young football prodigy that he once seemed to be. Despite his unjust circumstances, Sameh trained nonstop and soon found himself on the roster for Palestine's team traveling to Malaysia. By the end of the Malaysia game, Palestine had annihilated and humiliated the Malaysians and won 6-0. Sameh was one of the best players on the pitch and scored two great goals to lead his team to victory. 12 moths earlier, young Sameh was locked up somewhere in an Israeli prison with no hope of survival and now he lead his team to international glory.
Sameh Maraaba celebrating his goal.
The Malaysia game left Palestinians everywhere feeling a sense of national pride and jubilation. It was by far one of Palestine's best game in their football history and will not be forgotten anytime soon. Palestine now sit atop their group and still have to play UAE and East Timor, then every team again. Although World Cup qualification is a long way away and is still an extremely difficult, unlikely accomplishment for the Palestinian National Team, the significance of such a huge win extends far beyond just football. This sent a message to the rest of the world the Palestine is still here, still struggling, but still surviving. Despite not having a recognized nation, having one of the worlds highest unemployment rate, worst economies, most populated cities, and under constant threat of Israeli occupation, Palestinians remain hopeful of a brighter tomorrow. Sameh Maraaba is just one example of how dedication and resilience can go a long way, which is something that all Palestinians need right now. I want to thank the heroes out on the pitch who showed us what it means to be a Palestinian. In the words of the Egyptian commentator who went insane after Palestine's fantastic performance, "Raise your head, you are an Arab! Raise your head, you are a Palestinian!"
The Palestinians pray after scoring against Malaysia.
Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish is a prime example of a man able to defy all expectations and achieve something incredible. Born in the Jabbalia refugee camp in Gaza, Dr. Abuelaish received all his primary education from schools set up across refugee camps. Despite the challenges associated with such an inadequate environment, Dr Abulaish made the best of his situation is studied harder than most students. This perseverance and diligence allowed Dr. Abuelaish to study medicine in Egypt London, and even Harvard. Today, Dr. Abulaish is a renowned gynecologist. However, the most incredible, heart breaking part of Dr. Abulaish's story is the murder of his three children and a niece at the hands of an Israeli bombing. Dr. Abulaish was the first Palestinian doctor to work in an Israeli hospital, and for all his kindness he was repayed by the shelling of his own home and murder of his own children. His heart-wrenching story serves as an example of the impudent, inhumane, heartless nature of the Israeli military.This attack left Dr. Abuelaish's world in ruins, and despite three of his own children being killed at the hands of the oppressive Israeli military, Dr. Abuelaish refused to let hate consume his soul. He instead saw the imminent importance of bringing peace and eradicating hate from both sides of the conflict, in hopes of ending the seemingly endless cycle of violence that so unfairly took his daughters' lives. Dr. Abuelaish has written an incredibly touching book on his unfortunate situation, called I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity . Dr. Abuelaish also gave an extremely moving TED Talk at TEDxWaterlooo. Dr. Abuelaish is a man we should all strive to be like, because despite the pain and suffering he has faced throughout his life, he refuses to succumb to the harmful nature of hate and instead radiates love.
"The greatest weapon of mass destruction is the hate in our souls." -Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish
