Sports event
Today, Thursday, the Palestinian Football Association opened a football training center in the Gaza Strip with the participation of 60 children of different age groups, with support from the Norwegian Federation and the West Asian Federation.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Asian lecturer, Captain Imad Hashem, Captain Saeb Jundia, Rapporteur of the National Teams Committee, Captain Abdul Hamid Muhanna, Member of the Competitions Committee, and the players’ parents.
Mustafa Siam, the center’s coordinator, said that the children’s training initiative was launched from the womb of suffering and wounds in light of the genocidal war launched by Israel on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, and the beginning was in the heart of the displacement camps two years ago with the support and direct interest of Lieutenant General Jibril Rajoub, President of the Palestinian Football Association.
Siam stressed that the initiative aims to pay attention to football talents and juniors through an integrated training program that lasts for 6 months, and to enhance children’s mental and physical abilities in addition to psychological relief in light of the traumas and difficulties they experienced during the war.
He thanked the Norwegian Football Association and the West Asian Federation for the support provided to launch the initiative by providing all facilities to the participants.
In turn, Captain Imad Hashem stressed the importance of launching such initiatives, which constitute hope for the return of sporting activity in Gaza again.
Hashem thanked Team Rajoub for his support in launching the initiative, which carries a lot of importance, especially since it targets children who need psychological support through football, which is one of the most important tools of learning and education.
In turn, Captain Saeb Jundia pointed out that the launch of the initiative constitutes a message to the world about the right of Palestinian children to play and practice football in the difficult circumstances that these children lived through during the war.
Jundia sent a message to the children about the importance of commitment and discipline in training to enhance their technical and physical abilities, stressing that children are the nucleus of the future of the national teams.
Training is held at the Holy Family Stadium, with two training sessions per week under the supervision of Captain Moayed Abu Afsh, the initiative’s technical director, and Captain Islam Salama, the Gaza Center coach.
