September 17th, 2023: This Week in Palestinian Football
Is losing three straight friendlies really cause for such rancor from fans of the national team?
Eleven days. Five games for the Olympic and Senior Teams and for some people the sky is falling down.
The funny thing about this fan base is that they seem to direct their anger at the wrong people, at the wrong time. I have had my differences with national team managers in the past but I have always tried to keep criticism fair and just.
Moreover, the problems afflicting Palestinian Football lie at the feet of one man. His name is Jibril Rajoub- and any criticism that does not mention his epic mismanagement and purposeful misallocation of funds is not in good faith.
Is Makram Daboub perfect? No.
Does he make mistakes? Sure.
Should he be fired after posting a 100% competitive record in five qualifiers and an 8-2-6 record and a healthy +10 goal differential? No.
Are three straight losses a cause for concern? Yes.
A cause for panic and firing two months out form World Cup qualification? NO!
Do you really think that the Palestine Football Association would make the right hire in the theoretical aftermath? Would said coach be given enough support to secure three critical points vs. Lebanon on November 16th? Do we need reminding of who runs this circus and what inane things they have done in the past?
Also the players actually like Makram Daboub. Current and former players have told Football Palestine that Daboub is the best tactician they have ever worked with and are confident going into the games that matter.
The truth of the matter is that the PFA has hired a motely crew of characters to lead the national team. They have lucked into three competent coaches- Jamal Mahmoud, Abdel Nasser Barakat, and I would argue- Makram Daboub.
I understand the fans are angry about how the PFA handled Abdel Nasser Barakat’s firing. It was not fair for him to go when he had posted an 11-6-2 record and had won five straight qualifiers (sound familiar?) to clinch a spot at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
That said, he was not the first victim of poor decisions by the PFA- who forced Jamal Mahmoud out the door after he performed a miracle by getting Palestine to their first ever Asian Cup finals.
Imagine if the fans abused Barakat after every match because of the sins of Jibril Rajoub and Co.
The jury is still out on Makram Daboub and by his own admission this team can get out of its group and can get to the Third Round of World Cup qualifying.
Reviewing Oman and Vietnam Matches
