After the end of the group stage of (World Cup) Arab and the qualifying Palestinian team leading its group to the quarterfinals, my predictions turned true that the Fedayeen is the betting horse and the undisputed dark horse of the tournament.
But as someone who has been following the tournament for almost half a century, what does this contribution and this spirited combat and men's determination from the Palestinian team mean? For purely sporting reasons? Or is there more behind the scenes? I believe, and belief is what the mind accepts and the heart reassures, that the team’s unstated message is telling the world that there is an oppressed people, an usurped land, and swallowed rights, through naming Palestine as a country that ought not to be forgotten from the mind of an Arab or non-Arab, and that football has a mark on politics and might do what the big politicians cannot. For example, until about a month ago, I did not know that there was a country on Earth called (Curaçao), but through the World Cup qualifiers and the mentioned country's advancement to the finals from the (North America and Caribbean) region, only then through football I discovered that it is a sovereign state like the rest of the world.
On the occasion of the Arab Cup, I would like to point out an important issue perhaps an unprecedented one that (God willing) three teams from the Levant advanced to the quarterfinals despite all they suffer from scarcity in resources and many conflicts thus the Mashkalji team tops its group (with a full score), and so Palestine and if not achieving the same mark and perhaps if the Syria team was in a different group than Palestine's, it would have topped it with merit and entitlement.
As for the Nashami team (beloved by heart), it proved to everyone, starting with myself, that if a king is absent, another shows up. I was apprehensive because of the absence of six key players from the team due to reasons preventing their participation with their clubs, but luckily, what harms may benefit us, and thanks to God, we played against Egypt with a different team than the one we faced the UAE and Kuwait with, and still, we won with three goals and missed twice as many chances; thus, comforted my soul that the Nashami are present whoever attends.
Finally; I seriously propose to those concerned to establish a championship of the Levant Cup (Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan) to be held biennially, for example, to serve as a sports, activating social event where every team reflects its current reality, and why not? As geographical football tournaments are plenty like the Gulf Cup, West Asia Cup, Gold Cup, and so forth are widespread across the globe, and because we desire to continually see our Arab teams and their unity among players and fans as in the Arab Cup, then the end justifies the means.
And may God have mercy on the poet when he says:-
Does it belong to Egypt or the regions of the Levant ?
Here is greatness, and there, glory and lineage
And every Arab Cup and you are in good health
