Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Motorsports
  • Tennis

Loss of leg can't deter Gaza's 'hero' amputee footballers

by French Press Agency - AFP

GAZA CITY Mar 19, 2021 - 1:13 pm GMT+3
Palestinian players compete during the final of a local football championship for amputees between Al-Jazeera and Al-Abtal, organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in Gaza City on March 18, 2021. (AFP Photo)
Palestinian players compete during the final of a local football championship for amputees between Al-Jazeera and Al-Abtal, organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in Gaza City on March 18, 2021. (AFP Photo)
by French Press Agency - AFP Mar 19, 2021 1:13 pm
RECOMMENDED
Fenerbahçe's Enner Valencia (R) in action with Galatasaray's Berkan Kutlu during a Süper Lig match at Şukru Saraçoğlu Stadium, Istanbul, Türkiye, Jan. 8, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby: 1st goal crucial for bragging rights

super-lig

Using his crutches, Mohammed Abu Bayad runs as fast as he can, kicks the ball and ... goal!

He's the first to score in a football match in Gaza between Palestinians whose legs were amputated after they were hit by Israeli fire.

After a break of a few months due to the coronavirus pandemic, the tournament between four clubs culminated Thursday in the final, organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Palestinian Football Association.

"I played football before I was injured and my life changed, but I was determined to continue," said Abu Bayad, at a stadium west of Gaza City.

Palestinian players compete during the final of a local football championship for amputees, organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in Gaza City, March 18, 2021. (AFP Photo)
Palestinian players compete during the final of a local football championship for amputees, organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in Gaza City, March 18, 2021. (AFP Photo)

He was shot by the Israeli army in 2014 during the last war between Israel and Hamas, which rules Gaza.

According to the United Nations, some 8,000 other Palestinians were injured by Israeli army fire during the "great march of return" protests that started in March 2018.

For several months, thousands of Palestinians gathered along the barrier between the Gaza Strip and the Jewish state, heavily guarded by the Israeli army.

They were demanding an end to the decadelong Israeli blockade on the enclave.

They also demanded the right of Palestinians to return to the lands they fled, or were driven from, when Israel was created in 1948.

Ahmed Abu Nar, who also scored a goal for his team, lost his left leg during those protests.

"It was very difficult when I was wounded," he said. "Playing football helps me psychologically and physically, and makes me happy."

Palestinian players vie for the ball during the final of a local football championship for amputees, Gaza City, March 18, 2021. (AFP Photo)
Palestinian players compete during the final of a local football championship for amputees in Gaza City, March 18, 2021. (AFP Photo)

Mohammad Abu Samra, one of his teammates, said his interest in the game grew after his injury.

"I wanted to challenge myself and prove to the Israeli enemy that we will not surrender," he said.

For ICRC spokesman Hesham Mhanna, the players are "heroes", "victims of armed conflicts" who send a message that it is possible to overcome obstacles stemming from disability.

RECOMMENDED
Fenerbahçe's Enner Valencia (R) in action with Galatasaray's Berkan Kutlu during a Süper Lig match at Şukru Saraçoğlu Stadium, Istanbul, Türkiye, Jan. 8, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby: 1st goal crucial for bragging rights

super-lig
  • shortlink copied
  • RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    football amputee football gaza strip israeli occupation palestine
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    U.S. President Joe Biden (C) gestures as he and Hunter Biden (L) watch fireworks from the Truman Balcony of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 2022. (EPA Photo)

    Hunter Biden's alleged iCloud leak exposes inappropriate content

    hunter-biden
    A general view of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum in Purple Mountai, Nanjing, China. (Photo courtesy by Ahmet Faruk Işık)

    Seed of modern Turkish diplomacy in China: Nanjing city

    Nanjing

    Turkish Airlines becomes world's 8th-strongest airline brand

    TURKISH-AIRLINES

    Erdoğan's triumph through the prism of Pakistan

    TURKISH-ELECTIONS
    No Image
    Surfing culture booms in Senegal's Dakar
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021