Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ramallah: Palestinian FA President General Jibril Rajoub has hailed Palestine's historic AFC Challenge Cup victory as the best ever day in Palestine's football history.
Ashraf Al Fawaghra's sublime free-kick and the fifth successive clean sheet from keeper and captain Ramzi Saleh highlighted a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Philippines in Friday's final in the Maldives as the curtain came down on the AFC Challenge Cup for the last time.
The victory sparked scenes of jubilation throughout the West Asian nation as Palestine lifted their first ever international silverware and qualified for next year's AFC Asian Cup finals despite having to face numerous logistical obstacles and challenges even before a ball is kicked.
"This is the best day ever in Palestine football history and it comes at a great time, as we fight to get the Palestine sports rights with FIFA and IOC," AFP news agency quoted Rajoub as saying following the West Asian nation's first international
"Every Palestinian and Arab should be proud of this achievement particularly as Palestine does not have the technical stability and the resources of the other qualified teams.
"I want to thank everyone helped in this great achievement, the players and the technical staff and managers, and we will prepare for a great reception for the players when they come back from Maldives".
Celebrations, for the AFC Challenge Cup winners at least, won't be going on too long however as Rajoub is determined Palestine will be as well prepared as they can be for their AFC Asian Cup finals debut, where they face defending champions Japan, 2007 winners Iraq, and Jordan, home nation of Palestine's AFC Challenge Cup-winning coach Jamal Mahmoud, in the group stage.
"We will now start preparing for the Asian Cup finals. We are not going to play as guests only, and we will try as much as we can to get the best possible results."
Photo: AFP