Asian Cup 2015: Palestine coach offers Socceroos friendly — in Palestine
PALESTINE coach Ahmad Al Hassan has issued the Socceroos with an invitation to face his team on their own turf.
COACH Ahmad Al Hassan has issued the Socceroos an invitation to face Palestine on their turf.
Australia has never met Palestine in an international.
Palestine meets Iraq in what could be their final match of the Asian Cup at Canberra Stadium on Tuesday night.
Al Hassan says he is extremely impressed by the hospitality Australians have shown his side in the Asian Cup.
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“My message as a team from a country that is under occupation is that this is an invitation to the Australian team,’’ Al Hassan said.
“Come to Palestine and to play with us in Palestine.
“Hopefully one day we will able to be without the occupation and we would like to return the (Asian Cup) hospitality.”
Al Hassan says the Asian Cup’s organisation is world class, claiming Australia should also host the FIFA World Cup in future.
“The level of organisation in Australia is very high and everything is well and carefully studied,’’ Al Hassan said.
“I think Australia has the ability to even host the World Cup not just the Asian Cup and the teams, the tournament, the nations everything they need is organised like the World Cup.
“We’ve seen that in every way from the stadiums to the hotels to the organisation, everyone involved in Australia should be proud of that.”
And Palestine is expecting to have plenty of support from Australians with Palestinian heritage in Canberra.
The Asian Cup is Palestine’s first major participation at a tournament after it became affiliated to FIFA in 1998.
With Australia having more than 9000 people with Palestinian heritage Al Hassan said he said his squad was buoyed by the tremendous wave of support.
There has also been a group of fans that have travelled to watch Palestine’s 4-0 loss to Japan in Newcastle before seeing a 5-1 loss to Jordan in Melbourne.
“This has actually meant a lot (having Australians supporting Palestine),’’ Al Hassan said.
“It has given us momentum for more than what we are here for, simply because we have to be up to their expectations of support.
“What I can say to them (supporters) is that we so much endless respect for them.
“And this is evidence that our cause is a fair one and that we Palestinians are a nation that deserve to live normally like other nations.
“And this is the message to who ever who might be an obstacle in the way of the liberation of the freedom of the Palestinian people.
“That to realise we are worthy of freedom, like any other nation.”