What the Mediterranean Futsal Cup means to Palestine

by James Stringer from Tripoli

Whilst speaking with the members of the Palestine Futsal club I felt compelled to write about the situation that they currently find themselves in. Preparation for such a competition for other countries could not be any more straightforward; you pick your best players playing in leagues around the world and in your own country…

The Palestine Futsal club however doesn’t have this kind of luxury at all.
It has been well documented in the news all over the world about the conflict in Gaza and the west bank, what hasn’t been documented is the effect it has had for sport in the country. For 70 years, sport in Palestine has suffered from the conflict with Israel. The occupation of Gaza creates huge economic problems for the country; meaning valuable funding for sport is diverted into rebuilding the cities that are destroyed by the conflict. You have to wonder what life would be like if they didn’t have to keep rebuilding the cities bombed in the conflicts, how much more advanced sport would be and how much better the Futsal club would be.

Palestine want to formulate a league, just like in every other country but with only having a couple of Futsal stadiums it has been increasingly difficult. They have plans and aspirations but without funding, these plans have had to be postponed until a more suitable time arises. The players want to earn money, they have families but there is no money available to pay them to play Futsal let alone to compensate them for traveling. They can’t go to the stadiums to train as they can’t afford it and they just don’t have enough venues. The players can’t travel freely around like the rest of the world as Israel sometimes prevent them and restrict them any form of contact.

Palestine is desperate to show the world that they exist, that they have a Futsal team and that they can play the game just like every other team here at the Mediterranean Futsal Cup. They are here to introduce themselves to the world, to make new friends and promote themselves to the other nations here at the tournament in Tripoli. They wish to make friendships with nations such as Turkey, Lebanon and France to arrange future friendly games and participate in competitions. They are in a difficult situation and the nation is, and has suffered in the past, but with this tournament comes a new dawn for Palestine.

The main aim for the Futsal team is to continue representing their country as best as they can. In this tournament they have given a great account of themselves, they have at times played some lovely flowing Futsal and that can only encourage other teams to want to play against them in the future.


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com