January 12 – The Palestinian squad at the Asian Cup said they want to deliver a message of ‘life’ to the world by qualifying for the tournament knockout rounds, while also bringing at least a little happiness to people trapped in the violence of the war in Hamas.
The team hope to bring honour to their compatriots in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip where over 23,000 people have reportedly been killed during Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas.
“For us, the message we are here to deliver through football is to qualify for the second round because Palestine and its people want to live. This is what we can offer,” midfielder Oday Kharoub told Reuters.
Palestine play Asian powerhouse Iran on Sunday followed by the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, hoping to advance to the knockout stage for the first time in their history at what is their third appearance in the tournament.
Kharoub said it has been difficult for players, especially those with families in Gaza, to focus on training.
“Our hearts are with them and Inshallah, we can make them happy, even if it’s just a little bit, by qualifying for the next round. This is our ambition.”
Defender Yaser Hamed added: “The whole team is motivated with what’s happening in Palestine, it’s a difficult time for all families. But we’re professional players, we should keep it up the same way as we’ve been working in the last few weeks.”
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