Khaberni - The “Gaza Al-Irada” amputee football team announced the appointment of the Spanish Pep Guardiola as the honorary coach of the team, and has placed his picture in all its sporting activities and daily training sessions.
Players from the team said that choosing Guardiola to be the honorary coach comes because of his humanitarian stances supporting Palestine in general and Gaza in particular, confirming that this is the least they can offer to the only international coach who has expressed his rejection of the Israeli occupation crimes against the people of the enclave during more than two years of war, according to Al Jazeera.
Hossam Abu Sultan, a player of the team and one of its founders, said that all team members hope that Guardiola will coach them one day, whether inside Gaza or abroad, and added: "We chose this coach for his honorable positions and we did not see anyone else among athletes supporting the Palestinian cause and rejecting the genocide war on Gaza Strip."
In turn, Mohamed Abu Beid, one of the team players, said that the decision increased his ambitions to continue playing within the team, especially since all players dream of playing under the supervision of this coach, and they feel proud of his positions supporting the Palestinian cause and the residents of the Gaza Strip in the face of the Israeli occupation.
Mohamed added: "I dream of seeing Guardiola and playing in a team representing Palestine in his presence and under his supervision, and I aspire for him to be my personal coach in the near future."
As for Hatem Al-Maghribi, the technical director of the “Gaza Al-Irada” amputee team, he confirmed that the decision to honor Guardiola was not impulsive, explaining that the team management follows the Spanish coach's statements and positions on the Israeli occupation war on Gaza Strip.
Hatem added: "Gaza always stands by those who stand with it, and he deserves more than that, and the decision is a motivating factor for all team players who consider Guardiola a role model and an example for them."
The Spanish Pep Guardiola said in a press conference last Tuesday that he will continue to use his position as the coach of Manchester City to speak on behalf of the victims of conflicts and acts of violence around the world.
He added: "The genocide in Palestine, and what happened in Ukraine, and in Russia, and all over the world.. in Sudan and everywhere. What is happening before us? Do you want to see that? These are our problems as humans."
Guardiola's statements came days after he expressed his support for the children in the occupied Palestinian territories during his participation in a charity event in the Spanish city of Barcelona.
