Game of broken hearts: Israel's emotional return
The story of little Nave broke Eli Dasa's heart shortly before kick-off. A jersey with the eight-year-old's name on it hung in the changing room right next to the Israeli national team captain's seat. Below it was a photo of the boy who loves soccer so much.
Nave was kidnapped with seven other family members when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on October 7. Their house was burned down.
Nave is an 8 years old boy that was kidnapped from his home and is been held hostage in Gaza along with 7 members of his family.
Nave’s home was burned on October 7th and all that was left were his shoes and thr football that he loved so much.
Tonight Nave and all the other… pic.twitter.com/7WmdovNJr3
— ISRAEL FA (@ISRAELFA) November 12, 2023
The reality of his homeland caught up with Dasa before Israel's 0:1 in the European Championship qualifier in Kosovo. It was the first game since the attack. "We had tears in our eyes in the changing room," reported the 30-year-old. "We received videos from soldiers and children. They were smiling, but told us they no longer had a home where they could watch the game. That broke me."
Whistles during the anthem
The game on the bumpy pitch in Pristina was possibly the hardest of Dasa's career. The sport, Kosovo won 1:0 with a goal from former Bremen player Milot Rashica, completely faded into the background. The day before the game, Dasa and coach Alon Hazan wore military identification tags around their necks. "Our hearts are trapped in Gaza," read the inscription. When the anthem was played, accompanied by whistles and boos from the stands, Israel's players formed half a heart with their hands. A broken heart. Tears flowed.
"When I heard the boos from the crowd, I realized I was even prouder to be here," Hazan said. The match took place under massive security precautions. On the way to the airport, the bus had to stop due to a rocket alarm and the players had to seek shelter on the side of the road. More than 30 secret service agents accompanied the national team, who were only allowed to leave the heavily guarded hotel for the match.
Immediately afterwards, they traveled to Budapest, where Israel will play Switzerland on Wednesday. Matches against Romania and Andorra will follow. Four matches in ten days were scheduled, as the October internationals could not be played after the attack. "Everyone here knows someone who has been affected by the war. It's a part of us," Hazan said.
Players stuck in the Gaza Strip
The war is also a part of the Palestinian players, who start their World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday with a match against Lebanon. Three players nominated by national coach Makram Daboub were unable to take part in the preparations in Jordan because they were unable to leave the Gaza Strip. "They are doing well so far. But many of their relatives have died as a result of the bombing," said Dahoub.
There will also be no home games for the Palestinian team for the time being for security reasons. Australia will be hosted in Kuwait. Even away games will have to be postponed. The team will play Lebanon in the United Arab Emirates; the match was originally scheduled to take place in Beirut. There is no question of canceling the matches.
"It is a nation that wants to be heard and seen by the rest of the world. They want to live a normal life like everyone else, which is why the national team is important," said Susan Shalabi, Vice President of the Palestinian Football Association.
Despite the emotional turmoil, Eli Dasa and the Israeli national team focused on their European Championship qualification match against Kosovo. The game was filled with poignant moments, including the team forming a heart shape during the anthem, a clear representation of their broken hearts due to the tragic events in Gaza.
During the European Championship qualification campaign, Palestinian players faced challenges as well. Three of their team members were unable to join the preparations due to being stuck in the Gaza Strip, a direct consequence of the ongoing conflict.
Source: www.dpa.com
