Rajoub reveals start date of 'Thousand Martyrs' tournament
Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub announced the resumption of football activity after a nearly three-year halt, and the launch of the 'Thousand Martyrs Cup' tournament on September 4. The tournament will include 226 clubs, including 146 in the northern governorates, 44 in Gaza, and 36 in Lebanon. He also announced Palestine's participation in the Asian Games in Japan with a delegation of 108 athletes.
Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub, during a press conference held on Monday, announced the resumption of football activity after a nearly three-year halt, and the launch of the 'Thousand Martyrs Cup' tournament on September 4. Rajoub described this step as the beginning of restoring life to the Palestinian sports body and giving the people a space of hope and joy. He noted that the Israeli occupation had political, geographical, and cleansing goals, and sought to erase the Palestinian sports movement from memory. The tournament will kick off with three simultaneous matches: the first in the northern governorates at Faisal Al-Husseini Stadium between Jabal Al-Mukaber and Shabab Al-Khalil, in the south between Shabab Rafah and Services Rafah, and in Lebanon between Al-Ansar and Al-Nahda in the Ain al-Hilweh camp. The tournament will include 226 clubs, including 146 in the northern governorates, 44 in Gaza, and 36 in Lebanon. The association will provide a uniform amount to each club that meets the minimum conditions. Rajoub touched on the difficult financial conditions, noting that the Palestinian government was the sole funder of sports activities, despite the association receiving projects from FIFA and the Norwegian Football Federation. He explained that FIFA provided projects related to the technical sports center, rehabilitation of Faisal Al-Husseini Stadium, and funding for women's development centers. He confirmed that the association has not yet succeeded in obtaining a bank loan. Rajoub also announced Palestine's participation in the Asian Games in Japan with a delegation of 108 athletes, including 67 male and female players in 19 sports. He thanked the Olympic Council of Asia and its president, Sheikh Jowan bin Hamad Al Thani. He announced the first team's participation in a friendly tournament in China in September, and the Olympic team's participation in a match in Konya, Turkey, on September 30. In a concluding message, Rajoub said that Palestinian sports stand before an 'exceptional moment' after three harsh years, affirming that football is stronger than all circumstances, and that the people's will is capable of rising and continuing. He called on international federations to stand by Palestinian sports and protect the rights of players, clubs, and children.