Until yesterday, that is, when Palestine played an international football game on home soil for the first time in its history.
Quote:
A home advantage was never something the Palestinian national football team could count on, given that even their home games were played away. Yesterday's international friendly against Jordan in a West Bank stadium changed all that, and while the boost from their first outing on home soil might not have been reflected in the final scoreline, it was writ large on the faces of the Palestinian players and their fans.
"When you are playing here, in front of your own people, in your land it makes a huge difference," the stand-in captain Ayman Hindi said before kick-off. "We will play better."
For a nation whose statehood drive is stalling amid apparently fruitless peace negotiations with Israel and a devastating internal split between its two main political groups -- Fatah and Hamas – hosting the match was something to cheer about.
"Our national team, in our stadium, means we exist no less than any other nation in the world," said Mohammed Suhsa, a 45-year old mechanic who was in the 6,500-strong crowd, with his 11-year-old son, Mustafa.
"When you are playing here, in front of your own people, in your land it makes a huge difference," the stand-in captain Ayman Hindi said before kick-off. "We will play better."
For a nation whose statehood drive is stalling amid apparently fruitless peace negotiations with Israel and a devastating internal split between its two main political groups -- Fatah and Hamas – hosting the match was something to cheer about.
"Our national team, in our stadium, means we exist no less than any other nation in the world," said Mohammed Suhsa, a 45-year old mechanic who was in the 6,500-strong crowd, with his 11-year-old son, Mustafa.
Some people might think that is a joke, but it's not. International football is serious buisness.
I remember the '98 World Cup when Iran and the US played each other and exchanged flowers, a first sign of diplomatic communication. Even more momentous was Armenia's recent game against Turkey, in Armenia, which Turkey's President attended. Which, if you know anything about the history between those two countries, is a gigantic step forward. You'll know Kosovo is a proper state when it's competing in the Euro Qualifying Group. You'll know there's peace in the ME when Israel starts playing in the Asian Qualifying Group, instead of the European one, as it currently is.
Next step is a friendly match between Israel and Palestine, which might just happen if Netanyahu doesn't win the Israeli elections in February. I'll keep you posted.