Palestinians Play First Friendly In Europe
Palestine National Team Faces Brussels Club to Celebrate UN Agency
The Palestinian national team played their first-ever European football friendly on May 6, taking on FC Brussels in an event to help mark the anniversary of the UNRWA.
FIFA Member Since 1998
Football's world ruling body FIFA recognized the Palestinian federation as an official FIFA member association in 1998. And due to security reasons, the Palestinians have played national team home matches at neutral locations.
Celebrating UNRWA 60th Anniversary
The match between the Palestinian national team and FC Molenbeek Brussels was organized for May 6 at Edmond Machstens Stadium by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which was celebrating its 60th anniversary. The theme of the event was "A Goal for Peace", and it was a fundraising event for the benefit of Palestine refugees. All the proceeds of ticket sales will benefit the UNRWA Scholarship Endowment Fund to support young Palestine refugees in achieving their university education.
Molenbeek Brussels President: "Goal For Peace" Perfect Example Of Tolerance
"'A Goal for Peace' is a perfect example that sports are based on tolerance and openness. I am sure that our players and those of the Palestinian National Football Team will do their best to make turn this match into an entertaining and interesting sports event," said FC Molenbeek Brussels President Johan Vermeersch.
Friendly Follow Palestine Home Match Against Jordan
The friendly against Molenbeek comes more than six months after the Palestinian national team played their first-ever match on home soil, playing to a 1-1 draw against Jordan on October 26, 2008 at Faisal Al Husseini Stadium in Ram, a town near Jerusalem. Before the match, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said: "We are here to realise a dream, that is the national team of Palestine playing in its own stadium."
Palestine Ranked 171st
Palestine is currently ranked 171 in FIFA's world standings, quite a bit lower than the 115 they were ranked three years ago this time.
Three Days Of Travel To Belgium
Palestine head coach Izzat Hamzeh only had 16 players instead of a normal 22 squad. And seven of those players needed three days to get from the Gaza Strip into Belgium after Israeli checkpoints and administrative burden to obtain travel permits.
Palestine Lose 4-3 As Culek Hits For Hat-Trick
The Palestinians played a tough match throughout but fell 4-3 thanks to a hat-trick by Richard Culek. Culek opened the scoring in the 29th minute and Aurelien Coppin made it 2-0 a minute after the intermission. Majed Abu Sidu cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 47th minute before Culek re-established a two-goal lead, 3-1, in the 61st. Ahmed Keshkesh again trimmed the margin to one goal in the 65th. Culek struck again in the 76th before Abu Sidu struck with five minutes left.
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