Football Palestine: Tell us Palestinian football fans out there a little bit about yourself and your football career..
Mohammed Shatrit: I'm 28 years old. I'm from Halhoul just close to the city of Khalil (Hebron). All my family is in Palestine. in 2006 I signed professional contract in Liga 1 in Tunisia. It was a very good experience. But I came back to France after that for a French team in liga 3 but I got injured few months after. Unlucky. But when I recovered I found another challenge with a team JA Drancy in 2007 till December 2010. We finished champions in 2008 and in 2009. I finished top scorer in 2008 with 21 goals in 27 games. I started in liga 6 with the team (JA Drancy) and I left them in liga 3. In 2011 I came to Shabab al Khalil. But I didnt play very well. I agree.
FP: Did you ever consider playing international football before? How were you approached to represent Palestine internationally?
MS: I was at work and a colleague told me that the Palestinian national football team would be in Belgium. So I took the train from Paris to Brussels the day after with my training clothes. I told the former coach Ezzat Hamza that I was a football player and Palestinian. He was very nice with me. He told me ok no problem change your clothes and come on the pitch. I would like to thank him and Moussa Bezaz too.
FP: When you scored your first goal for Palestine vs Dynamo Moscow, how did it feel?
MS: I did feel very good and proud really very proud maybe the best memory as football player.
FP: Who/which of the national team players did you get most closely acquainted with?
MS: All are my friend and more they are like brothers. I was very close to Abdallah Sidawi i really love him and Shbair, Al Amour, Eyad Abu Gargoud, Bahdari, Jarun, Said abu Salim, Khader Youssef and all of them.
FP: In your brief time with the NT, what were the negatives and the positives you experienced?
MS: Negative things are that I didn't play any minutes in Myanmar for Challenge Cup qualification but all the rest was very positive and wonderful. Wallah i enjoyed to come everytime.
FP: What did you think of the teams performance in the Challenge Cup Qualifiers?
MS: Very good, we qualified and that was what we came for. And now our FIFA ranking is better too.
FP: How do you see your chances to represent Palestine in the future?
MS: I think that they won't call me back. I'm sad but if anybody gives me chance I will be very happy and proud to play my best football.
FP: How was your relationship with former French-Algerian coach Mousa Bezaz? And how was he as a coach?
MS: At the beginning it was very good and he gave me chance to play. I would like to thank him. But after I was less good after my foot injury. I started to get less playing time. But hamdulila now I'm better. And Bezaz was a very good coach he tried to make us as professional as possible and thanks to him we improved.
FP: When you came to the WBPL and Shabab Al-Khalil from France, many fans had high expectations from you.. but you only scored 1 goal that season. What is your comment on that?
MS: I agree I scored only 1 goal but look I didn't play too much in attack because we needed players in midfield. And I was not very happy because Shabab Al-Khalil lied to me. They didn't give me my salaries. And they were not professional. It was better with coach Samir Issa. We didn't get a very good team when I came. But me too I was not on the top during my short experience. But my head was never quiet.. I always had to think about how to pay things in Paris and help my family. It was difficult but I would like to thank very much all the fans. They were good with me. So, I didn't score because I often played in midfield.
FP: What is your club situation?
MS: FC Issy in Liga 4. Very good team.
FP: Are you planning to come back to the Palestinian league?
MS: I don't know, why not. But next time I'll be more careful.
FP: What is your dream club, the club that you aspire to play for some day?
MS: Where destiny drives me!
FP: Lastly, would you like to say a word to Palestinian football fans?
MS: Thank you very much for supporting our national teams. And I would like to thank Mr. Jibril Rajoub for hosting me like a brother. I hope to play again for Palestine and Inchallah god Will give us better days.
