 |
| Preliminary Team Meeting |
Jamal Mahmoud has outlined the framework of the schedule Palestine will follow ahead of the 2014 Challenge Cup in may. Upon the completion of the 2013/14 WBPL Season the team will head to Pakistan to play two friendlies there on April 14th and 16th.
After that, the team will return to Palestine in order to allow player to rejoin their teams ahead of the 2013/14 Palestine Cup Final.
The national team is expected to then hold a training camp in the Gulf before heading out to Sri Lanka to face their respective national team in two encounters. The FA has planned to then fly directly to the Maldives a week before the tournament is due to kick off.
Preliminary Squad list after the jump…
For his part, Mahmoud expressed worry over the availability of his foreign-based players who will be tied to their clubs if their domestic season is ongoing. Stating that 90% of those players have yet to give their final answer regarding participation.
Palestinians who will be participating in domestic league competitions include: Abdelatif Bahdari (Zakho/IRQ), Murad Ismail (Wehdat/JOR), Omar Jarun (Ottawa Fury/NASL), Alexis Norambuena (GKS Belchatow/POL), Mohammed Samara (El-Dakhlyeh/EGY) Ramzi Saleh (Misr Lel Maqasa/EGY), Imad Zatara (Atvidaberg/SWE).
Imad Khalili (Al Shabab/KSA) is rumored to be available for the Challenge Cup but could make a loan return to Helsingborg in May which could complicate matters.
Should he choose, Jamal Mahmoud will have the full contingent of Lebanon-based players at his disposal.
Palestine have called up a preliminary squad of 30 players, all of whom are based either in the WBPL or Gaza:
Goalkeepers: Toufic Ali (Tarji Wadi Al-Nes), Ghanem Mahajneh (Shabab Al-Dhahrieh), Rami Hamadeh (Thaqafi Tulkarem)
Defenders: Ahmed Abdullah (Al-Am’ary), Samer Hijazi (Jabal Al-Mukaber), Nadim Barghouthi (Hilal Al-Quds), Haitham Deeb (Jabal Al-Mukaber), Mus’ab Al-Battat (Shabab Al-Dhahrieh), Musa Abu Jazar (Shabab Al-Khaleel), Abdullah Jaber*, Raed Fares (both Hilal Al-Quds)، Maysara Al-Bawab (Hilal Gaza)، Mutaz Al-Nahal (Khadamat Rafah)*
Midfielders: Abdelhamid Abuhabib (Balata), Anas Al-Helu (Gaza Sporting)*, Husam Abu Saleh (Hilal Al-Quds), Khader Yousef (Tarji Wadi Al-Nes), ‘Al-Koori’ (Al-Am’ary), Mu’ath Mustafa (Thaqafi Tulkarem), Mustafa Abu Rahal (Shabab Al-Dhahrieh)*, Fayez Aslieh (Shabab Al-Khaleel), Ahmed Maher (Shabab Al-Dhahrieh), Sameh Mura’ba (Islami Qalqilya) Hilal Musa (Khader)*
Forwards: Adham Abu Rwais (Balata), Ashraf Nu’man (Tarji Wadi Al-Nes), Khaldoun Al-Halman (Ahli Al-Khaleel), Laith Kharoub (Al-Bireh), Rami Musalmeh (Khader FC), Mahmoud Wadi (Ittihad Khan Younes)*
