For once, the flagship meeting of an international football competition has not been its opener (Australia Kuwait, Friday, Jan. 9) and will not be the final of 31 January in Sydney. Monday at 8 am, a whole country, and probably beyond, has retained its breath for the opening match of Palestine against Japan.
The meeting was very unbalanced between the taking of the Japanese title and eleven Palestinian 113th in the world rankings. But the eleven players who intones the Palestinian anthem, the main thing is to participate. The elected representatives of the Asian Confederation, the organizing body of the event, are not mistaken, there is little swearing Palestine "Asian Team of the Year."
A team from afar
What a journey from the creation of a national team of Palestine in 1998, five years after the birth of the Palestinian Authority! The first ten years of the team were chaotic, as the Israeli neighbor did nothing to make life easier and movements of the players. But things are arranged with the end of the second "Intifada" in 2005 and the recognition of the Palestinian case by Fifa.
The latter has delegated locally in 2008 one of its executives, the French Jerome Champagne. "In 2008, there was nothing, no competition, no stage, to be honest, I never thought we could get there. "Reflects this training diplomat who also worked on the approximation of the Turkish Cypriots and sporting bodies. This 'there' applies as much to the qualification for the Asian Cup and the holding of regular championship in a territory divided in two between the West Bank and Gaza enclave. Artificial turf were built in the territory and the national team now has an official stadium in Ramallah.
Obstacles
Football nevertheless remains an obstacle course for the Palestinians, who often lack the kickoff of their games after being held en route to Israeli checkpoints.
The president of the Federation Djbril Rajoub, a former security chief Yasser Arafat, has become the bane of Israel since he called "Nazi" last intervention in Gaza. In response, Israeli security forces raided the offices of the Federation for a search. And forward Sameh Maraba, detained eight months for alleged links with a terrorist organization, was not released until early December. Too late to be selectable for Australia, where his teammates are trying to defend as they can and without him the Palestinian colors.
How not to congratulate them because football much than politics is a factor of peace.
BRAVO TO PALESTINE!
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