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| Ashraf Nu’man: Hoping to win titles with Al-Wehdat |
With the vast majority of domestically based players on one-year deals the summer period sees a great deal of roster reshuffling. It isn’t uncommon for clubs to change half their starting lineup as a result of constant wheeling and dealing. Palestine’s biggest names based in foreign leagues have also been on the move.
Here’s a synopsis of all that’s gone down:
More after the jump…
Abdelhamid Abuhabib
Merkaz Balata (PLE) to Ismaily (EGY)
Free Transfer
3-year deal Terms Undisclosed
One of the transfer sagas of the summer. Abuhabib put pen to paper shortly before the WBPL season came to a close and all seemed in order for Ismaily to finally get their man after failing in his capture last season. With the ink still wet, the Gazan chose to re-sign with Balata signaling an intent to remain in Nablus for the time being. This has set off a tug-of-war between the two clubs with Ismaily threatening to go to the courts over the matter. It remains to be seen if we will ever see Abuhabib play for Ismaily.
Alexis Norambuena
GKS Belchatow (POL) to TBD
Free Transfer
Alexis Norambuena’s 18-month stint with the Green Men started off brightly, helping the club win the Liga I title and promotion to the Ekstraklasa after joining during the 2014 winter break. He played every minute of the first six games of the GKS’s season before succumbing to injury. The muscular tear was worse than first feared and held the rightback out of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup and the rest of GKS Belcahtow’s season.
As a result, the club declined the option to renew his contract. At the time of writing, Alexis is currently training with Liga I side Zaglebia Sonwiec.
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| “Considering a new experience and with it the time of departure nears” |
Abdelatif Bahdari
Al-Wehdat to TBD
Free Transfer
It has been a crazy summer for Abdelatif Bahdari who came to an agreement to play for Shabab Al-Khaleel earlier this season. This came on the heels of the defender disappearing from national team training camp. His antics resulted in a six-month ban from participating in any PFA administered competition. Our sources have the player returning to Al-Wehdat and the player alluded to pursuing new challenges in a facebook status.
This would mark the second time Bahdari voided a contract to pursue an opportunity outside of Palestine. The player had previously signed a contract in 2011 before leaving to join Al-Hajer of the Saudi Pro League.
Ashraf Nu’man
Al-Faisaly (KSA) to Al-Wehdat (JOR)
Free Transfer
2 years/ $100,000 per annum.
After leading Al-Faisaly (KSA) in goals scored last season it was assumed that Palestine’s biggest star would parlay the good performance into a contract with a bigger Saudi Club. There were rumors that Al-Shabab were interested but that never materialized. There was passing interest from Al-Najran (KSA), Al-Muharraq (BHR), & Ismaily (EGY). The one club who made a serious push- Al-Wehdat got their man despite efforts from multiple WBPL sides to secure his services.
Daniel Kabir Mustafá
Atletico Venezuela (VEN) to Coras de Tepic (MEX)
Free Transfer
Undisclosed
The strapping center back had a productive two seasons in Venezuela and was perhaps the most consistent foreign-based Palestinian player over that time period. That said, the club decided to part ways with DKM and the Argentine-born defender has now added another stamp in his passport. Coras de Tepic of Mexico’s Liga Acenso MX (2nd Tier) is his seventh club in six years in a journey that saw him make stops in Portugal, Spain, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela.
Imad Zatara
Atvidaberg (SWE) to TBD
Free Transfer
Atvidaberg- Zatara’s club for the last two years chose not to renew his contract after a serious injury sidelined him for much of 2014. Four months on, Zatara is still looking for a club and his somewhat advanced age (he will turn 32 later on this year) might hinder his ability to find a new club. He is expected to join Abdel Nasser Barakat’s training camp in Germany later this year.
Jaka Ihbeisheh
NK Krka (SVN) to NK Rudar (SVN)
Undisclosed
Ihbeisheh’s goals and involvement saved Krka from the drop last season. This season he will still feature on the pitches of the Prva Liga only with a different club- Rudar. The two-year deal brings him back to the club from Velenje for a second time in four years. His first stint ended in a meager four league appearances. That said, two matchdays into this season, Ihbeisheh has logged 115 minutes, including one start that saw him go the full 90 minutes.
Javier Cohene
Borac Cacak (SRB) to Atletico CP (POR)
Undisclosed
The most expensive Palestinian footballer (according to Transfermarkt) has made a move back to Portugal- this time dropping down a division to the Segunda Liga. Cohene originally made his mark in this league with Olhanense- helping them earn promotion in 2008/09 before moving on to River Plate, Paços Ferreira, & Vitoria Setubal. After barely surviving the drop, Atletico CP will be hoping Cohene’s unique blend of speed and power can help shore up their leaky defence.
Ramzi Saleh
Assyouty Sport (EGY) to TBD
Free Transfer
Increasingly hampered by a lack of constant playing time and niggling injuries- Palestine’s centurion considered announcing his international retirement- but stopped just short of doing so. The player claims he has multiple offers on the table but wants to wait for the right move. He will have to rediscover his form of old at club level if he is to earn a 108th cap for Palestine.
Rami Hamadi
Khader FC (PLE) to Ismaily (EGY)
Free Transfer
Cancelled
Palestine’s Olympic Team net minder was set to move to Ismaily on a four-year deal with a salary escalator of $10,000 for each year he stayed with the team. The deal was cancelled after it was discovered that the Egyptian FA rules only allow Egyptian goalkeepers in the league. With no path to citizenship (Ramzi Saleh acquired one by virtue of being born in Cairo) the deal was cancelled and Hamadi eventually chose to sign with Thaqafi Tulkarem of the WBPL.
