Palestinian hopes turn to sport

Whangarei Palestinian Suhil Musa will have divided loyalties when watching the Asian Cup tonight from Australia. Photo / File

Suhil Musa is torn between the country of his birth and another where he first migrated when it comes to football.

However, the Whangarei school teacher is emphatic he'll support Palestine over Jordan when the neighbours clash in an Asian Cup fixture in Melbourne tonight.

Mr Musa was born in Palestine but also lived in Jordan for about nine years before moving to Saudi Arabia.

It's the first time Palestine is participating in an international football tournament and Mr Musa says that means a lot to him and his fellow countrymen.

The tiny Arab nation has never qualified for the football World Cup, but the country hopes the Asian Cup will give the experience to move up to the next level.

"To see the Palestine flag flying and its national anthem being sung in a foreign soil before their game against Japan [on Monday] was a proud occasion for all Palestinians around the world," he said

"Results don't matter. I hope we can get through to the second round although that looks unlikely. Palestine is probably the weakest of all teams competing in the Cup, but the fact that it qualified for the tournament means a lot."

He said to also watch Arab speakers from other countries in the Middle East and Australians supporting the Palestine team against Japan was encouraging.

Football was popular in Palestine during his formative years but he reckoned the sport was gaining more popularity these days because of competition between cities and more government help towards promoting the game.

On who did he think would win tonight, Mr Musa said: "I think Jordan will by at least three goals. My heart is with Palestine and my mind with Jordan. I want Palestine to win but what you wish and what happens are two different things. I'd still be happy if Jordan win because they have more chances of qualifying for the second round. Overall, I like watching good, clean game no matter who's playing," he said.

Another Northland-based Palestine Motasim Awad will also be cheering for the country he calls his homeland, despite the fact he was born in Saudi Arabia before moving to Jordan.

His parents are from Palestine and his father taught in schools in Saudi Arabia and Jordan during Mr Awad's childhood.

"Palestine is my motherland and I am so happy they are playing overseas because they haven't had this chance in the past due to fighting between Palestine and Israel," he said.

Other teams competing include hosts Australia.