Doha, Qatar – Palestine’s soccer staff made history by recording their first win within the AFC Asian Cup and qualifying for the knockout stage of the 2023 version of the event in Qatar.
Feelings ran excessive for the gamers on the pitch, their supporters within the stadium and Palestinians again dwelling when the full-time whistle was blown of their 3-0 win over Hong Kong on the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium on January 23.
Whereas the consequence could have introduced pleasure and momentary distraction from the continued struggle in Gaza, fear and anxiety proceed to grip the staff as they put together to tackle hosts and defending champions Qatar of their round-of-16 match on Monday.
In an unique interview after final week’s win, Palestine Soccer Affiliation President Jibril Rajoub informed Al Jazeera how the staff is set to hold on regardless of the struggle again dwelling, how soccer’s governing physique FIFA can “do extra” to assist the Palestinians and what the longer term holds for Palestinian athletes.
The interview has been edited for brevity and readability.
Al Jazeera: What does the success of the Palestinian staff imply to the individuals in Gaza?
Jibril Rajoub: We, the Palestinian soccer household, imagine that the game generally is a good software to show the struggling of the Palestinian individuals and to focus on their willpower and dedication to reaching their objectives.
The staff’s success amid such a horrible scenario – whereas persons are being buried of their hundreds amid the destruction, the atrocities, the genocide – is motivating our gamers to realize one thing for his or her individuals.
The qualification in Asian Cup knockouts is a good achievement. It’s an excellent message to our individuals – it provides them hope.
Al Jazeera: How tough has it been for the staff to assemble and prepare for the Asian Cup?
Rajoub: It’s not simple. We now have many players in Gaza who couldn’t be a part of the nationwide soccer staff and different groups.
However we must always not and we won’t hand over.
Within the West Financial institution, they’re making an attempt to suffocate all people. They need all people to depart, however we’re there and we’ll stay there.
Regardless of the political and geographical break up in Palestine [between Gaza and Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory], we’re united.
The soccer staff is the one one that’s functioning for the time being, so we try to maintain all of the gamers exterior Palestine so as to proceed our 2026 World Cup qualification and participation in different occasions resembling this event.
We now have some pleasant video games lined up. We’ll journey to South Africa to satisfy the disciples of [Nelson] Mandela – their nationwide staff – on the anniversary of Mandela’s launch on February 11.
We now have no alternative besides not giving up.
We won’t go away our nation. We won’t go away our houses.
Al Jazeera: Do you suppose FIFA can do extra to assist Palestinian footballers?
Rajoub: [There’s a] a double-standard coverage. FIFA and the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) ought to comply with one commonplace and one coverage.
The Israeli Soccer Affiliation is organising official league video games within the occupied territories of the State of Palestine, which is a transparent violation of the statutes of FIFA and the Olympic Constitution.
Secondly, I by no means hear any sport organisation in Israel criticising their authorities’s assaults, destruction and killing of [Palestinian] gamers.
We’ll preserve pushing the IOC and FIFA to comply with their ideas.
I hope the worldwide neighborhood, whether or not it’s sport or civil societies, will perceive that it’s the time to lift a crimson card [for Israel].
The Israelis haven’t any proper to disclaim others the identical rights that they take pleasure in.
Al Jazeera: Has the struggle in Gaza affected the focus and focus of the gamers?
Rajoub: Positively. It’s a preoccupation for them. Think about a participant, his family members, his household, his neighbours, his colleagues [in Gaza]. It’s a tragedy. However surrendering is just not and shouldn’t be a part of our plan.
We should always not hand over. We’re all affected [by the war] psychologically and bodily, however now we have to proceed our battle.
Al Jazeera: What does the longer term maintain for the Palestinian staff and gamers who should return dwelling amid the struggle?
Rajoub: We’re the Palestinian individuals. We now have been dealing with the identical destiny, the identical future, the identical scenario.
We go dwelling, we meet our households, and we once more attempt to go someplace to play as a result of sport is a part of our resistance. Sport is a part of our nationwide obligation to our individuals.
Al Jazeera: Palestine play Qatar, the hosts and defending champions, within the spherical of 16. Are you anxious concerning the sport?
Rajoub: We’re the strongest staff on the earth. Our willpower and endurance empower and inspire our gamers.
