Palestine vs Japan - Asia World Cup 12th January 2014
For the first time in its history the Palestinian football team took part in a top levelĀ tournament despite the restrictions of theĀ occupation.Ā
āWeāre the only nation here at the Asian Cup that is under occupation. I havenāt seen my family for three or four years, just because I am from the Gaza Strip but now I live and play in the West Bank, in Nablus. -Ā Midfielder Abdelhamid Abuhabib
For Palestinians,Ā It didnt matter if they lost the game, they had already won by just being there as Palestine.
"We gathered in our thousands
And for the first time
We werenāt mourningĀ
Celebrated.
Ululated.Ā
Dabke between tight spaces,
of folded chairs
and awkwardly up
small stadium stairs
We danced like
We just won
The World Cup finals.
We sang soccer chantsĀ
and liberation songsĀ
these songs of freedom.
Found myself dancingĀ
surrounded by beaming brothers and sisters and thought, āif this is what losing looks likeā¦ā
Only to remember thatĀ
we wonĀ
With flying coloursĀ
"Ma3 lash, shoo sar?
Falastin zay ed nar!ā