Well, that’s all she wrote folks. With Hilal Al-Quds wrapping up the FA Cup yesterday with a 2-0 win over Al-Dhahrieh we can set our sights on what is bound to be a very active offseason.
Six national team players plying their trade abroad are currently out of contract and will be looking for clubs. While there are interesting rumors regarding players who may be leaving and joining the Palestinian League. Here’s a roundup of what we have read:
Majed Abusidu:
Re-upped for another year with Tadamon after rampant speculation that he’d be joining Al-Faisaly or Shabab Al-Ordon. The goal was to get the team back to the Premier League but the team failed to achieve that. It is almost certain that he will leave but we haven’t heard of any interested teams. It is thought that his preferred option will be to stay in Kuwait to be close to his family.
Shareef Adnan:
Started most of Faisaly’s games this season but has been told by the club that his services will not be needed. Al-Ra’ie as well as other sources have reported about a bizarre falling out with the manager over Adnan’s request that a new set of boots be purchased. He is currently being linked with Shabab Al-Khaleel, who are in the midst of plotting a spending spree to restore their former glory.
Fahed Attal:
With Ahmed Keshkesh leaving the club there might be more playing time for Attal if he reaches a deal with Wehdat. He did manage to outscore Keshkesh but Wehdat’s choice to sign Abdullah Dheeb from Shabab Al-Ordon might keep him on the bench. The unknown factor is what happens to the team in the offseason, if Shelbaieh gets an attractive offer from a club in the Gulf it could open up a window for a deal between Wehdat and Attal. If Attal does not re-sign he would attract interest from several clubs in Jordan.
Abdelatif Bahdari:
Has informed the Wehdat board that he will not be resigning and will pursue one of the current options on the table. Several WBPL sides are interested in acquiring him but the “Black Panther” will most likely be looking to test his mettle in a bigger league. He was being tracked by Egyptian giants Zamalek in January and it is also rumored that he has a mega offer from a Saudi club on the table.
Ahmed Keshkesh:
Thanked Wehdat for all their support over the past two years and announced his departure via facebook. The rumors mill has him going back to the WBPL to play for Al-Am’ary.
Ramzi Saleh:
The qualifying matches against Afghanistan and (if we advance) Thailand will be important for him. He must first prove his fitness to Mousa Bezaz and the technical staff and then parlay that into one of his dominant performances. If healthy, there will be a bevy of teams after his signature. He had two deals fall through last year only because of a problem with his ACL that he has had since he was 12. All reports say that the surgery in Germany went well and he has since resumed training.
Rafat Ali:
The 36 year-old Wehdat maestro was recently voted the best player in Jordan and his eternal youth and dominance make him a Middle Eastern Ryan Giggs. Shabab Al-Khaleel are currently looking to lure him across the border with a generous contract.
Alaa Attieh:
Perhaps the most talented Palestinian footballer you have never heard of. He was supposed to be included in the Olympic squad that faced Thailand but Israel got in the way at that. He currently plays of Al-Shajaeya in Gaza and at just 20 years old is coming off a season where he notched 22 goals. His performances have caused Al-Ahly (EGY) and Wehdat to take notice.
