Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
New Palestine coach Ahmed Al Hassan expects the AFC Challenge Cup winners to remain competitive at the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 even though the continental debutants are faced with the daunting prospect of facing defending champions Japan, former winners Iraq and an improving Jordan in the group stage next January.
Al Hassan was appointed earlier this week after Jamal Mahmoud resigned following September’s Peace Cup in the Philippines having guided Palestine to a first-ever AFC Asian Cup appearance by winning May’s AFC Challenge Cup.
But despite the disruption caused by Mahmoud’s departure less than three months before the start of the AFC Asian Cup, Al Hassan is confident Palestine can build on their AFC Challenge Cup success which was secured following victory over the Philippines in the final having not conceded a goal during their entire unbeaten campaign in the Maldives.
“The Japan national team is a well-known team in Asia, and considered one of the top level teams not only in Asia but in the world. For sure, the match against Japan will be very difficult and a high level one, but we will play it with a good organisation and persistence,” said Al Hassan with Palestine set to face friendlies with Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Thailand in November.
“Iraq is the champion of a previous edition for this championship and Jordan, in recent times, has developed dramatically and significantly. But also Palestine has developed a lot and in my opinion, the levels are close.
“It's an honour for any coach to be the head coach of the national team of his country in this important championship, but at the same time, it's a big challenge for me to represent the national team in a good level during the championship.”
Palestine fully deserved their AFC Challenge Cup success after posting an unbeaten record without conceding a goal following group stage wins over Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar and a draw with the Maldives before beating SAFF champions Afghanistan and the Philippines in the knockout stages.
And since claiming third place at the Peace Cup following a 7-3 extra-time victory against Chinese Taipei, Palestine beat both India and Pakistan in October friendlies.
But in Australia, Palestine will be playing at the top level of Asian continental football for the first time, with Al Hassan’s side beginning their campaign against four-time champions Japan at Newcastle Stadium on 12 January.
Palestine then face Jordan, who reached the intercontinental play-off for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium four days later before rounding off their Group D campaign against 2007 champions Iraq in Canberra on 20 January.
“The biggest challenge for me is to apply the preparation plan that I prepared smoothly without any problems,” added Al Hassan.
“Previously, and after the development of football in Palestine, our goal was to qualify to the finals of this championship knowing that this is for the first time in Palestine’s football history.
“In this moment, our role is to build upon this success through good preparation to represent Palestine and Palestinian football with a high performance respected by everyone.”