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Earlier this week we had a look at uncapped goalkeepers plying their trade abroad who deserve a call-up to the national team. Today, we will have a look at three defenders who could be part of Palestine’s set up in the near future.
The backline that Al-Fida’i will field in June 2023 will feature some familiar faces. Mohammed Saleh and Musab Al-Battat are veterans of the 2019 Asian Cup campaign and Yaser Hamed Mayor has started every game held during a FIFA match window since his debut in August 2019.
The problem Palestine will face at the 2023 Asian Cup is at left back. Abdallah Jaber’s exclusion from the national team has created a massive problem for Palestine as the presumptive starter has only three caps to his name. Jaber started 56 out of 64 official matches between 2014 and 2019.
Depth is also an issue- not only at left back but across the back line.
Monti Mohsen (Forge FC, Canadian First Tier, 22)
Mohsen signed for Shabab Al-Khaleel last month so he doesn’t quite fit the Palestinians Abroad label. That said, the Ottawa native is a very interesting prospect. He has played in Ottawa’s regional teams throughout his youth and was one of the youth players used to build out the rosters of Canadian Premier League a few seasons ago. The player qualifies to represent through his mother (his father is Iraqi).
Will he pan out in the WBPL? Shabab Al-Khaleel seem to think so and elected not to hold onto Mohammed Yousefin and with Mohammed Direya moving to the Latvian top flight he seems to be the defending champion’s persumptive starter at the position.
The 22 year old has 22 senior appearance and was part of the Forge FC that won the CPL the last two years.
Will he join? Yes, the move to Shabab Al-Khaleel was probably agreed to with an eye of putting himself in front of the coaching staff ahead of the 2023 Asian Cup. Makram Dabboub has only one true left back in his player pool meaning that Monti could be fast tracked into the national team.
Jamil Najjar (Borussia Monchengladbach II, German Fourth Tier, 18)
The past 12 months have been huge for Jamil Najjar’s development as a player. The centre back made his debut in German fourth division last year with Hertha Berlin playing in six games and a total of 357 minutes. He is close to eclipsing those numbers this season having appeared in four out of the five games for Monchengladbach’s reserves for a total of 232 minutes.
German reserve teams are unofficially classed as U23 teams- designed to give young players a chance to play consistently, develop and make a professional breakthrough in their early 20s. They do, however, sign older players to act as mentors to the younger players at the club. The fact that Najjar debuted at this level as a 17 year old speaks of his quality.
Furthermore, Najjar was one of only three signings made by Gladbach during the summer transfer window and has already become a stalwart of the reserve side- pushing the two most senior players in the team for playing time. There is confidence in the club that Najjar could become a valuable contributor to the first team in the next season or two. The Berlin native was a part of a select group of youth players that spent preseasons training with Daniel Falke and the first team.
Najjar started one of those preseason friendlies- a 1-0 win over MSV Dusiburg.
Will he join? Najjar has not been capped by Germany at youth level although that might change very soon. That said a senior team call up might sway his allegiances especially with the chance to play at the Asian Cup.
The presumed hierarchy at centre back including the 38 year old Abdelatif Bahdari as 4th choice behind Hamed Mayor, Saleh, and Termanini. Palestine’s most capped player seems to be transitioning into a role of elder statesman of the dressing room and a non-playing member of the squad. He could be in that role for the 2023 Asian Cup but his retirement is imminent and Palestine needs to think about blooding in youngsters for the future. Najjar could be a part of that project.
Wessam Abdel-Ghani (FC Gießsen, German Fifth Tier, 28)
Should Palestine consider a player that plays so far down the footballing pyramid in Germany? The question might really be- do they have a choice?
Abdallah Jaber is not coming back. Jibril Rajoub will not allow him back and that leaves Makram Dabboub with a big left back problem. Ahmed Qatmish and Mohammed Khalil play most their WBPL minutes as CBs. Only Samer Jondi is capable of playing the position but he remains untested against elite opposition.
In scouring the depths of the internet for uncapped Palestinian players who could play as defenders the enormity of the problem becomes evident. There are no defenders and the ones that are out there are young and inexperienced. Even the aforementioned players that made our shortlist fit that description.
Wessam Abdel-Ghani on the other hand has a wealth of experience: 200+ games as a professional in the German fourth and fifth tiers, captain of his club, and can play as a holding midfielder to boot.
He may well not be part of Palestine’s solution going forward but Palestine simply doesn’t have any other choice. Left Back is a problem area at U23 and U20 level as well.
So why not give Abdel-Ghani a shot?
Will he join: Most likely. Playing for a national team would be a huge boost in terms of prestige for any player plying his trade in German fifth division.
