Agents of Chaos: Palestine National Team is Back

After almost a year with a game, the Palestinian national team has played a match - and won.

On Monday afternoon, as part of their training camp in Kuwait, the Fidai held a friendly against the local national team, in a match outside the FIFA calendar.

Outside of the FIFA calendar and after almost a year without a game:

Palestine 🇵🇸 is playing Kuwait 🇰🇼 today! 🤩⚽️ pic.twitter.com/r1BE3eZJs7

— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) January 18, 2021

Palestinian football has been hurt a lot by the COVID-19 pandemic, above the usual imbalance in the local scene professionality. Several notable players left to Israeli football; salaries haven’t been paid for almost a year, lack of sponsors and so on. A professional coach is nowhere to be found on the national team level, as the federation continues to trust Algerian ex-assistant, Nourredine Ould Ali.

While these definitely can seem like a major setback, it is a good reminder that Palestinian football was born in, and it is played in, chaos and mess. The players, the teams and the national ethos have been built on the struggle and challenges that very few national teams face. This is why a victory in the positive display wasn't that surprising after almost a year without a game together.

🇰🇼🇵🇸 Kuwait v Palestine friendly incoming... pic.twitter.com/hQwxku9mXn

— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) January 18, 2021

A line-up on the West Bank Premier League purity delivered quality match-up for the Kuwaitis in every position and possession. Captained by Musab Al-Batat who played in the midfield, goalkeeper Toufic Ali was focused and solid, Musa Farawi added speed and determination on the right flank, while Shehab Qanbar pressed well with Balata’s Mahmoud Abu Warda.

On the 69th minute, Sameh Mar’abeh finished a great counter-attack with a beautiful header and made it 1-0 to the Palestinians, who managed to protect their advantage until the final whistle.

An important “back-to-life” game for al-Fida’i, and a good reminder that the Palestinian footballers know to shine especially when its least expected from them.

Tamer Seyam and co. stop Kuwait, after a year without a game together. (Photo: Kuwait FA)

صور || نهاية مباراة منتخب الكويت وشقيقه المنتخب الفلسطيني #الكويت 0 - 1 #فلسطين#الكويت_فلسطين#KuwaitFA pic.twitter.com/tguZIYCoEA

— KuwaitFA (@KuwaitFA) January 18, 2021

Photo via Kuwait FA official Twitter account.