Homs, Syria.
Many battles, sieges and wars had taken place in Roman Emesa before it was captured by Khalid ibn al-Walid in 636 AD. He was the one to give the city its current name, Homs.
Years later he would be honoured by the Homsi people, who named the city’s main football stadium after him - the Khalid ibn al-Walid Stadium. Back then, nobody thought that this stadium would be known across the whole Asian continent.
Traditionally, Homs is known as the heart of Syrian jokes. Wednesday is considered a holiday for its inhabitants. A tradition strengthened in 2006, after Al-Karameh managed to reach the final of the Asian Champions League. The games used to take place on Wednesdays, and Al-Karameh didn’t lose once in Homs back in 2006.
Still recovering from the aftermath of the Syrian civil war, Homs hosted its first derby with fans in May 2017, between Al-Karameh and Al-Wathba. 12,500 spectators searching for normality found their way into Khalid ibn al-Walid Stadium.
Last week, derby day in Homs took place again, but this time in the Al-Basel stadium in Baba Amr. Baba Amr was the epicentre of fighting in 2012. Here is what that game looked like.
A first derby day in Homs since 2017. Photo courtesy: Oliver Ricken©
Al-Basel stadium’s outskirts, in Baba Amr. Photo courtesy: Oliver Ricken©
The building is a memory. Photo courtesy: Oliver Ricken©
Al Wathba fans are having an unforgettable season, and it shows. Photo courtesy: Oliver Ricken©
Al Karamah’ stand. Photo courtesy: Oliver Ricken©
Smoke in Homs. Photo courtesy: Oliver Ricken©
Hope and anticipation. Photo courtesy: Oliver Ricken©
Al Karamah fans. In 2006, they were the Asian champions. A lot has happened since. Photo courtesy: Oliver Ricken©
The terrace is life. Photo courtesy: Oliver Ricken©
A Syrian day dream. Photo courtesy: Oliver Ricken©
The Latakia Derby, Tishreen against Hutteen, known as one of the middle east's most fierce rivalries, with two fanatic sets of fans. Earlier this week it took place as part of the city's 'Love Festival'. It didn’t feature a lot of love between the two sides, but it did shed light on a greater phenomena: Syrian football, that lives on under severe circumstances.