WEST BANK: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - Palestinians re-launch national soccer season after eight year absence

Record ID: 252530

  • Title: WEST BANK: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - Palestinians re-launch national soccer season after eight year absence
  • Date: 24th August 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) NIDAL ABBASI, SILWAN TEAM CAPTAIN, SAYING: "Today, everyone is happy especially after an absence of five years. We have our utmost respect for the federation for taking a positive and quick step (to stage the tournament). Thank God, we have now reached this point and we hope that it will revive Palestinian soccer." CLOSE OF BANNER HUNG ABOVE STAND POR
  • Embargoed: 8th September 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA4B0KR3AD23QLCDZLF7I1795UP
  • Story Text: The Palestinian soccer season kicked off on Thursday (August 21) in the West Bank city of Jericho after a lengthy absense had suspended the competition since the outbreak of the second Palestinian uprising in 2000.
    The tournament was dedicated to late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, who died in the United States following heart surgery earlier this month.
    Darwish's brother, Ahmed, symbollically lit a torch that officially declared start of soccer season.
    The opening match between Hilal al-Quds from Arab East Jerusalem and Silwan ended in a goalless draw, but the result didn't matter as much of the crowd were just pleased that Palestinian soccer was finally back.
    The head of the Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub said he hoped the league would become a success in the next few months.

    "This is a serious start and I believe it will create a solid foundation for an organised league tournament," he said.
    Silwan's captain, Nidal Abbasi, praised the work of the soccer federation in organising the new league season.

    "Today, everyone is happy especially after an absence of five years. We have our utmost respect for the federation for taking a positive and quick step (to stage the tournament). Thank God, we have now reached this point and we hope that it will revive Palestinian soccer," he said.
    Some 5,000 spectators watched a fast-paced but scrappy match played in searing evening heat.
    The league consists of 22 teams from across the West Bank, the season is scheduled to last for seven months. However, teams from the Hamas-run Gaza Strip will not take part this year partly because Israel sharply restricts travel and trade to and from the coastal enclave.
    The head of the Jericho team, Abed Ghashan, said he was disappointed Palestinian teams from Gaza could not join the league.

    "We are sad that teams from Gaza could not participate in this tournament. But the political situation in the strip has a negative effect on the unity of the country and the federation's efforts," he said.
    None of the clubs in the league are fully professional. The opening season is intended to determine the strengths of the teams, which will eventually be divided into two divisions.
    Soccer is a popular sport amongst Palestinians, but their national team, currently ranked 172nd in the world, has constantly struggled internationally.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register