Receive news, analysis, and other content straight to your inbox by subscribing to Football Palestine (free or paid),here.
Barely a fortnight removed from their Asian Cup heroics, Al-Fida’i have landed in Cape Town for a pair of friendlies aimed at raising awareness and raising funds for the victims of Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza.
The squad that has landed in the Rainbow nation bears little resemblance to the one that was in Doha last month. Musab Al-Battat, Odai Kharoub, El-Mehdi Issa, and Samer Zubaida are the only holdovers along with three out of the four goalkeepers.
Layth Kharoub is the only player that was not in Qatar and has an official cap to his name. It has been 26 months since he last played for Palestine at the FIFA Arab Cup. He is also the oldest player in the squad at 32 years old.
The team will face a South Africa Select squad on the grounds of the Athlone Stadium on February 11th and 18th.
The matches will hold little importance to Palestine other than keeping players match fit in light of the ongoing suspension of the West Bank Premier League.
