A second year of fully-fledged professional football in
Palestine is in the books. While the 2011/12 season has been mired with the
lack of footballing action in Gaza- there have been some notable highlights.
Palestine is in the books. While the 2011/12 season has been mired with the
lack of footballing action in Gaza- there have been some notable highlights.
Hilal Al-Quds lift the
league
league
In the first half of the league, the Lions from the capitol
city were absolutely superlative. Their 4-0 demolition of Jabal Al-Mukaber on
the opening day of the season as well as their 3-0 win over 2010/11 League
Champions- Al-Am’ary. During the season’s first half no one could match Hilal
Al-Quds in league play- they romped to nine straight wins conceded a mere 3
goals and blew past most opposition- they were only truly tested by the Hebron
duo- Shabab Dhahrieh and Shabab Al-Khaleel.
city were absolutely superlative. Their 4-0 demolition of Jabal Al-Mukaber on
the opening day of the season as well as their 3-0 win over 2010/11 League
Champions- Al-Am’ary. During the season’s first half no one could match Hilal
Al-Quds in league play- they romped to nine straight wins conceded a mere 3
goals and blew past most opposition- they were only truly tested by the Hebron
duo- Shabab Dhahrieh and Shabab Al-Khaleel.
Hilal Al-Quds stumbled in the second half of the season-
dropping points to bottom club Merkaz Tulkarem on Matchday 10 followed by a
tepid 1-0 loss to Jabal Al-Mukaber. That reverse ended an impressive a 16-month
31-match unbeaten run in the WBPL.
dropping points to bottom club Merkaz Tulkarem on Matchday 10 followed by a
tepid 1-0 loss to Jabal Al-Mukaber. That reverse ended an impressive a 16-month
31-match unbeaten run in the WBPL.
A 1-0 loss to chief league rivals Shabab Al-Khaleel prompted
the resignation of Jamal Mahmoud who wanted to dedicate all his time to the
National Team. The Challenge Cup break came at the right time for the Lions as
the time off gave the club an opportunity to steady the ship. Hilal Al-Quds won
their remaining three matches with minimal fuss spurred on by their talisman,
Murad Alyan.
the resignation of Jamal Mahmoud who wanted to dedicate all his time to the
National Team. The Challenge Cup break came at the right time for the Lions as
the time off gave the club an opportunity to steady the ship. Hilal Al-Quds won
their remaining three matches with minimal fuss spurred on by their talisman,
Murad Alyan.
Shabab Al-Dhahrieh:
Cup Meisters
Cup Meisters
The Oryxes did quite well in the WBPL this year managing a
third place finish after notching up 10 wins 4 draws and 4 losses. But it was
in the cup competitions where the club truly shined. Taking full advantage of
Shabab Al-Khaleel’s and Hilal Al-Quds’s group stage exits in the Yasser Arafat
Cup winning all their games en route to the final; where they beat Al-Am’ary on
penalties after the scoreless draw.
third place finish after notching up 10 wins 4 draws and 4 losses. But it was
in the cup competitions where the club truly shined. Taking full advantage of
Shabab Al-Khaleel’s and Hilal Al-Quds’s group stage exits in the Yasser Arafat
Cup winning all their games en route to the final; where they beat Al-Am’ary on
penalties after the scoreless draw.
The team was even more impressive in the Palestine Cup.
Playing without their captain- defender Mohammed Al-Masri- the team crushed
Abn’a Al-Quds (5-1), Silwan (3-1), Merkaz Balata (3-0), and Ahli Al-Khaleel
(5-2). Faced with the defending champion, Hilal Al-Quds, in the final the team
executed an astute game plan that seemed to come straight out the José Mourinho
playbook. Hilal Al-Quds were given the freedom to dominate the wings but the
moment anyone came inside they were met with a swarm of green shirts. It may
have been different for Hilal Al-Quds had Murad Alyan been eligible to play,
but you have to credit to Said Abu Taher for reading the game correctly and
sending out his team prepared and ready to win.
Playing without their captain- defender Mohammed Al-Masri- the team crushed
Abn’a Al-Quds (5-1), Silwan (3-1), Merkaz Balata (3-0), and Ahli Al-Khaleel
(5-2). Faced with the defending champion, Hilal Al-Quds, in the final the team
executed an astute game plan that seemed to come straight out the José Mourinho
playbook. Hilal Al-Quds were given the freedom to dominate the wings but the
moment anyone came inside they were met with a swarm of green shirts. It may
have been different for Hilal Al-Quds had Murad Alyan been eligible to play,
but you have to credit to Said Abu Taher for reading the game correctly and
sending out his team prepared and ready to win.
With Khaleel Al-Sane’ and Mohammed Al-Masri retiring from
professional football the torch will be passed on to a promising crop of
youngsters at the club. Khaled Salem looks to have a future as a center back,
whilst Ahmed Maher and Ismail Qassem are already dynamos for the club in the
middle of the pitch.
professional football the torch will be passed on to a promising crop of
youngsters at the club. Khaled Salem looks to have a future as a center back,
whilst Ahmed Maher and Ismail Qassem are already dynamos for the club in the
middle of the pitch.
Al-Am’ary seek
Continental Redemption
Continental Redemption
An embarrassing admission: I picked Al-Am’ary to win the
league this year. They were excellent in the WBPL’s first month before falling
apart and firing Hisham Al-Zoabi midway through the season. With the likes of
Ahmed Harbi, Ahmed Keshkesh, Ismail Amour, Ma’ly Kawre’, and a slew of other
National and Olympic Team players within their ranks it’s hard to discern what
went wrong.
league this year. They were excellent in the WBPL’s first month before falling
apart and firing Hisham Al-Zoabi midway through the season. With the likes of
Ahmed Harbi, Ahmed Keshkesh, Ismail Amour, Ma’ly Kawre’, and a slew of other
National and Olympic Team players within their ranks it’s hard to discern what
went wrong.
They were a missed penalty away from claiming the Yasser
Arafat Cup but crashed out of the Palestine Cup to Division 1 side Ahli
Al-Khaleel. Their league campaign resulted in a miserable and ultimately
meaningless mid-table finish.
Arafat Cup but crashed out of the Palestine Cup to Division 1 side Ahli
Al-Khaleel. Their league campaign resulted in a miserable and ultimately
meaningless mid-table finish.
But after beating FC Balkan of Turkmenistan 2-1 in the AFC
President’s Cup redemption could come in the form of an epic continental
adventure. A 1-0 reverse to hosts Istiklol means that the Greens will have to hope for Istiklol to beat or draw against Balkan on the final matchday to have any chance of advancing to the Final Six.
President’s Cup redemption could come in the form of an epic continental
adventure. A 1-0 reverse to hosts Istiklol means that the Greens will have to hope for Istiklol to beat or draw against Balkan on the final matchday to have any chance of advancing to the Final Six.
Newbies
There will be no top-flight football in Tulkarem next year but neither team could argue against the verdict after a slew of uninspiring performances over the past two years. Four teams will be promoted in their place Ahli Al-Khaleel (joining fellow Hebronites Dhahrieh and Shabab), Islami Qalqilya, Hilal Areeha (Jericho), and Jenin. The best thing about this is that the lovely Jericho Stadium returns to its true home in the top flight:
There will be no top-flight football in Tulkarem next year but neither team could argue against the verdict after a slew of uninspiring performances over the past two years. Four teams will be promoted in their place Ahli Al-Khaleel (joining fellow Hebronites Dhahrieh and Shabab), Islami Qalqilya, Hilal Areeha (Jericho), and Jenin. The best thing about this is that the lovely Jericho Stadium returns to its true home in the top flight:
