9 - 15 May 2002
Issue No.585
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 9 - 15 May 2002 Issue No.585 |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Playing for Palestine
In solidarity with the Palestinians, star Arab footballers converge on Cairo for a match in which winning and losing means little. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab reports
A star-studded line-up of Arab soccer players and the Palestine national team meet in Cairo today with only one goal in mind: helping Palestinians deal with Israel's military siege and occupation.
A flier promotes today's encounter
The aid will come in the form of proceeds from the match, sponsored by Al-Ahram Organisation. Tickets start from LE2 up to LE5,000 for the event, to be played at Cairo Stadium starting 7pm.
The Israeli siege forced the Palestinians to arrive in Cairo in two groups, one which crossed over from Rafah and the other from Lebanon.
"This match shows a natural bond between all Arabs," Hani Abu Reida, treasurer of the Egyptian Football Federation, said. "If someone suffers, we all suffer. We are all one."
"Policy is kept for politicians but our target is to state a fact, that Palestine is in our heart," Abu Reida added.
"All Arab sportsmen are standing shoulder-to- shoulder with Palestine," former Egyptian great Mahmoud El-Khatib said. "As sportsmen we'll donate the proceeds to the beleaguered Palestinian people. The role of the players is not only entertaining fans with goals and victories but also echoing public opinion."
"It's not a victory that anyone is aiming at," said Ehab El-Sharqawi, Al-Ahram's marketing representative. "It's about regaining the occupied lands. All television stations, sponsors, announcers, singers and volunteers are making one statement: Palestine is in our heart."
A similar match with a similar goal was held last week between Egypt's Olympic Team and China under the auspices of Akhbar Al-Youm Organisation. The match, which saw doves of peace fly overhead Port Said Stadium and children waving Palestinian flags on the pitch, generated LE350,000.
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