 |
| Ashraf Nu’man: Signing for the other Al-Faisaly |
With the transfer deadline rapidly approaching what better time could there be to look at Palestinian footballers based near and far?
Full rundown after the jump….
Omar Jarun
Club: Ottawa Fury (NASL)
Transferred: January 6th, 2014 (From Charleroi)
GP: 9 (5 Starts) out of a possible 17
Omar had a great start to the spring season and his excellent play (including two goals) saw him make a return to the national team after an 18-month absence. That call-up however cost Omar some time with the Fury and he picked up an injury in the first games of the Fall Season. Omar was on the bench this week as his side lost 2-0 to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. As he inches to full health he should be able to reclaim his spot alongside Mason Trafford in Ottawa’s defence.
Alexis Noarmbuena
Club: GKS Belchatow (Ekstraklasa)
Transferred: February 12th, 2014 (From Jagiellonia Bialystok)
GP: 4 (4 Starts) out of a possible 8
Alexis is in his second season with Belchatow and his influence on the squad has been palpable. In the second half of the 2013/14 season he started every single game en route to promotion and the Liga I title. The start of the 2014/15 season saw Belchatow top of the Ekstraklasa after four games with Alexis playing every single minute of the campaign. Since then, a knock has sidelined Alexis and his team has cooled off considerably (although they remain just three points off the pace).
Daniel Kabir Mustafá
Club: Atletico Venezuela
Transfered: June 30th, 2014 (From San Marcos)
GP: 3 (3 Starts) out of a possible 3
The well travelled Mustafá arrives in Caracas fresh off a Primera B title with San Marcos. Towards the middle of the season it became clear that Mustafá’s status was not one of an unquestioned starter. Nevertheless, DKM finished with 17 starts and played in 28 matches for San Marcos- he even chipped in with three timely goals which helped seal with side’s automatic promotion. Mustafá has now found a home with Atletico Venezuela and has played every minute of the campaign thusfar.
Abdelatif Bahdari
Club: Al-Wehdat
Transferred: August 2014 (From Zakho FC)
GP: None (League yet to start)
Perhaps the most depressing transfer of the summer. With conditions worsening in Iraq, Bahdari decided to leave Erbil-based Zakho. After a stellar Challenge Cup, one would have thought that Bahdari could be on his way back to the Saudi Pro League or another top league in the region. For whatever reason, hopes never materialized and Bahdari finds himself back at the club where he won an unprecedented quadruple three years ago. He has played in one cup game (a 0-0 draw vs. Shabab Al-Ordon) and by all reports seems to be shaking off some rust. His time with the national team next week should help him recover match fitness.
Ashraf Nu’man
Club: Al-Faisaly (KSA)
Transferred: August 2014 (From Wadi Al-Nes)
GP: 2 (2 Starts) out of a possible 3
Ashraf Nu’man has successfully conquered the WBPL and Jordanian league in prior seasons and may be well on his way to doing the same in Saudi Arabia. He scored a sensational brace this past weekend- so far, so good for Palestine’s best player.
Ibrahim Swidan
Club: Al-Ansar
Transferred: August 2014 (From Tripoli)
GP: None
Swidan moves down the coast to Beirut where he will hope a move to a more prominent side results in better service and more goals.
IN LIMBO:
Misr lel Miqasa have recently brought former Zamalek ‘keeper and Egypt international Abdel Wahed El-Syed. The move has raised doubts as to whether Ramzi Saleh will continue with the club. It also continues a proud tradition of clubs bringing in Egypt internationals to displace Ramzi Saleh: Sherif Ekramy at Al-Ahly, Essam El-Hadary at Al-Merrikh, and Amir Abdelhamid at Smouha.
Speaking of Egypt, Abdelhamid Abuhabib had an offer to go to Ismaily but a multitude of factors prevented him from joining the Dervishes. This included borders being closed during the Gaza conflict and the fact that the Egyptian side was not prepared to offer Balata a transfer fee for his services.
PALESTINE ELIGIBLE:
Imad Khalili
Club: Shanghai East Asia
Transferred: July 14th, 2014 (From Helsingborgs)
GP: 7 (1 start) out of a possible 8
Khalili has one goal to his name in 122 minutes- the winner in the Shanghai derby. He was hauled off at halftime in his only start and has yet to get enough playing time to establish himself in the side.
Dani Schahin
Club: Freiburg
Transferred: August 26th, 2014 (on loan from Mainz)
GP: 1 (1 start)
Schahin featured in three games last season for Mainz; so this loan move made sense for all parties involved. Having started and played 58 minutes against Monchengladbach this weekend- Schahin might be in a position to replicate the form he showed while at Fortuna Dusseldorf two seasons ago.
