Palestine’s coaching staff are expected to arrive in Qatar on Sunday along with the first contingent of players to conduct what has been termed as a “gathering” ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers against Jordan and Iraq later this month.
Ehab Abu Jazar’s appointment in early December meant there were no international breaks that he could use to communicate his ideas to the team as a group. Qatar was picked in large part due to the contingent of national team players based there. While the majority of players will not be able to participate in training without explicit permission from their clubs they would be free to attend tactical team meetings.
Qatar is home to Amid Mahajna, Mohammed Saleh (both Al-Rayyan), Alaa Aldeen Hassan (Al-Arabi), Ataa Jaber (Qatar SC), Yaser Hamed Mayor (Al-Gharafa), Rami Hamadi (Al-Markhiya), Milad Termanini and Musab Al-Battat (both Al-Wakrah).
Those eight players are considered locks to be included in the upcoming squad once it is announced.
As is the ususal practice, the Palestine Football Association has not revealed the list of players called up. That said, several clubs have played spoiler. Slask Wroclaw revealed that Asad Al-Hamlawi will be called up for the first time ever. The 24 year old Sweden born striker has scored in his last two matches for the Ektsraklasa side.
Earlier this week Khalil Jadallah’s reporting also revealed that Adam Kaied of Eredivisie side NAC Breda has completed his nationality switch and will receive a call up. There were efforts to bring in Tammer Bany Odeh but his recent move to West Bromwich Albion has thrown a spanner in the works.
Abu Jazar has also handed call-ups to several of his former Olympic Team charges. Badr Moussa returns to the side after an absence of nearly three years after a slew of impressive performanes in the Egyptian Premier League. There are also a pair of maiden call-ups for Hamed Hemdan of Petrojet and Khaled Al-Nabris of Ismaily as well.
The only other call-up that has been confirmed by a club is that of Mohammed Khalil.
Palestinian players enjoyed a fine weekend as a collective. Rami Hamadi led Al-Markhiya back to the top of the Qatari second division with a stellar performance and clean sheet. There were goals for Asad Al-Hamlawi, Oday Dabbagh (2), Ataa Jaber, Mahmoud Eid, and even defenders Mohammed Saleh and Wajdi Nabhan managed to score.
