Israel-Palestine To Play Peace Match In Seville
A combination of Israeli and Palestinian players will play against a mixed team of Spanish and Spain-based players in the 27th December ‘Peace Match’ due to take place in the Andalusian capital.
The match is the brainchild of the Peres Centre For Peace and follows last year’s match that took place at Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium. The game attracted an impressive crowd of 31,820 spectators and was beamed live to over 70 countries.
Israeli politician Shimon Peres attended the match along with Sean Connery, who was the guest of honour at the prestigious event. The Peace Team was coached jointly by Israel national coach Dror Kashtan and Palestinian coach Jamal Hadeideh of the West Bank Tulkarm club.
After a goalless first-half, Barça took the initiative when Deco lobbed Israeli keeper Nir Davidovich from outside the area and within five minutes Maxi López enjoyed a rare goal in the Blaugrana colours when he tapped hom a cross fro Ludovic Giuly.
In the 67th minute Abas Suan beat Alvert Jorquera with a fierce drive to reduce the arrears but the real winner was the Middle east as a new way of proving that politics don’t have to infect everything seems to have caught on. Last year saw the following line-ups:
Barcelona (2): Jorquera, Belletti, Oleguer, Gabri, Edmilson, Van Bronkhorst, Gabri, Iniesta, Motta, Ronaldinho, Eto’o. Also played: Puyol, Larsson, Giuly, Maxi, Sylvinho, Rodri, Deco, Verdú, Dani, Messi.
Peace Team (1): Davidovich, Nimni, Gershon, Tal, Abualia, Abuksis, Badir, Benado, Keisi, Mussa, Ali Aluara. Also played: Sidawi, Biton, Brahme, Domb, Dego, Ami, Harazi, Melichson, Mahud, Muhammed, Duabshe, Suan, Muhammad, Asulin.
Tomorrow will be the first official training session for the combined team, scheduled to take place in the town of Ramat Gan, north of Tel Aviv (Israel). The Israeli-Palestinian side will feature Dudu Auat, Yossi Benayoun, Shavit Elimelech, Avi Nimni, Giovanni Rosso, Moshé Biton, Lior Assoulin, Assi Domb, Klemi Saban, Ismail Amre, Abbas Sawan, Alon Harazi, Tom Almadon and Dedi Ben Dayan. The Spanish team hasn’t been made official but Sergio Ramos, Antonio Reyes, Joaquín Marchena, Juanito and Bodipo are all reported to have said yes.
