Iran Teheran came and
went quickly for Futbol Palestina's crew. When we arrived we were
told that the journalists had no visa and would be put on the next
plane back to Turkey, which meant staying in the airport until
the next morning.
After some harsh words, a few hours and $130, we were finally allowed
in.
Team Palestine was there for the West Asia Cup, a tournament played
yearly with six teams divided in two groups. Palestine#s group
included Jordan and Iraq;
the other group guests Iran, Lebanon and Syria. Back from the airport,
we joined our team again at the Laleh Hotel Teheran, just in time
for
dinner.
For us, as for most Westerners, Iran was a big mystery, a country
known only through biased intermediaries, different in every sense
from the way we live
and function.
Tehran seemed indeed in a time capsule, with its gray buildings, locally
made cars and antiquated infrastructure. Traffic was a jungle, with signals
that
seemed to exist as adornments and motorcycles crisscrossing lines in all
directions with whole families on board.
The city is plastered with billboards of the Ayatollah alongside neon advertisements
and symbols of Islam. In one billboard he weeps piously as he walks over
the clouds in an insert; in another he looks sternly at the west as the
people, up in arms, joyously march forward. Murals of martyrs, veterans
of the war
against
Iraq almost three decades ago, generally accompany these images.
Women#s dress was in fact one of the most eye-catching sights. Although
with different levels of stringency, all women are required to abide by
hejab
(dress code), ranging from only a scarf worn loosely over the hair to a
full chador:
only eyes peeping through a black full-body garment. Little girls in the
playground seemed to be flying with their veils waving through the air.
On the record, most people say they agree with the heavy restrictions of
the Islamic state. But after some trust building, it is clear a double
standard is in place. When asked, most people living there could tell stories
of private
parties in mini skirts, drugs and alcohol, all formally forbidden by the
mullahs.
Iran is indeed fascinating in its distinctness, in its busy life, its small
shops untouched by the likes of Wal-Mart, in the thousands of years of
civilization peering from every corner. But Iran is for the Iranians to
decide; for us,
the
main significance of our trip to Iran was the opportunities a new soccer
match could bring to our young players.
Although a bit weakened by the absence of their most important members
and tired by the long time away from home, the team wanted to win and make
it
all worthwhile.
This short tournament is important to rebuild confidence and for our inexperienced
players to develop the mindset and savvy required in big time soccer. Palestine#s
first opponent, Jordan, was flying high after a historic World Cup qualifier
victory in Tehran over powerhouse Iran. In the end, Palestine and Jordan
tied 1-1, with a goal by Ziad Al-Kourd for Palestine in the first half:
a golden
point for the aspirations of a team in a race to make history.
Next in this tournament, our team
faces World Cup qualifier rival Iraq. This fall, Team Palestine will
play Iraq again in Qatar as the World Cup
qualifiers
continue; the game against them now gives the team a final opportunity
to assess their rival's strengths and weaknesses.
Istanbul From Istanbul, overlooking the Bosphorus,
Futbol Palestina 2006 ís crew says hi.
We arrived in this ancient city after the first
setback on Team Palestineís
way to the Cup: 0-3 against home team Uzbekistan in Tashkent.
The result was fair as the locals dominated the game from the start. Things
got hard quickly after a precise header by Lokomotiv Moscow star Oleg Pashinin
six minutes into the game. The early goal set the terms too quickly before
a Palestinian side that was nervous and erratic in defense and midfield. The
goal, scored from a corner kick, further frustrated players and coaches since
it had been amply anticipated and prepared against before the game.
Uzbekistan relied on its long passes, the superior speed and strength of its
players and the occasional deep pass by local star Mirdjalol Kocimov. Palestine
fell in the trap and tried to do the same, even tough its asset is the short
pass preferred by the South American Palestinians that make up the midfield.
Another goal born of a mistake in the midfield and an unnecessary penalty towards
the end of the game sentenced the score.
In the end, it was clear Palestinians have much to learn, perhaps too much
in such a short period of time and under their present circumstances.
One cannot improvise real competition experience, and that is perhaps
what the team lacks most. Unable to play tournaments in Palestine since
the
beginning of the Intifada three years ago and with no athletic infrastructure,
the
Palestinians seemed naïve against opponents playing competitive
games weekly, some in tough European leagues, and performing in the most
important
tournaments
in the world.
That lack of experience the Chileans usually compensate
for was marred by poor performance, injury and organizational mix-ups.
Luis Musrri,
a veteran
Chilean
midfielder, was banned because of a FIFA ruling forbidding players
who had played on other national teams: Musrri played in the 1998 World
Cup
representing
Chile. Pablo Abdala, the Argentinean midfielder from Chileís
league Temuco, was out because of injury. Roberto Kettlun was imprecise
and
missed the clearest goal opportunity at a critical moment; Kettlun
had to be replaced
after a ferocious kick to the knee that will sideline him for a few
weeks.
Tough times are not new to this team, full of courage
and with a higher goal in mind. It is not over for the Palestinians,
but it will be very
hard. Their
rematch will come in a few moths against the same opponents, this time
in Doha, Qatar, where the Palestinians play their "home" games.
A new defeat would make it virtually impossible for the Palestinians
to go on to Asiaís
final round of eight.
Before the next game, though, the team will travel
to Teheran, Iran, for a brief tournament. Our crew will travel with
the players to see
the new
lessons
they learn. Hopefully, Teheran will give Palestinians what their
many weeks in the Egyptian training camp perhaps canít: An opportunity
to learn that to win they need more than just guts and legs, but
also the ideas
and savvy to outsmart their opponents.
