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Football has returned to Gaza. Photo: Reuters . |
On the dilapidated artificial turf pitch in Tal al-Hawa, Jabalia Youth faced Al-Sadaqa in the first football tournament in the Gaza Strip after a two-year hiatus. The five-a-side match ended in a draw. Another clash between Beit Hanoun and Al-Shujaiya also ended with a similar result. But that wasn't the most important thing.
Around the field, crowds jostled against the makeshift fence. Boys climbed onto broken pieces of concrete, peering through gaps in the rubble to follow every play. Some carried drums, creating a lively rhythm amidst the chaotic scene.
Youssef Jendiya, a 21-year-old player from Jabalia Youth, described his feelings about returning to the pitch with mixed words: "Happy, sad, excited." Everyday life is full of hardships, and time for football is short and precious. "Every day everyone has so much to worry about. But there are still moments to play football and hold onto a little joy," he shared.
The joy was incomplete with the absence of many familiar faces. Nevertheless, the opening whistle blew. "We're on the field to send a message," said Amjad Abu Awda of Beit Hanoun. "No matter the circumstances, the game goes on."
The Yarmouk Stadium, with its 9,000-seat capacity, is no longer in its original state. Part of the old pitch has been temporarily cleared to install fencing and re-swept with worn artificial turf. The once packed stands are now just a memory.
But when the ball started rolling again, life quietly moved on.
Source: https://znews.vn/bong-da-tro-lai-o-gaza-post1627230.html
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