A huge banner was unfurled by an enthusiastic crowd in the Southern side of the Dura Stadium in Palestine on Saturday afternoon with a message that read: “The Muslim Youth of Palestine welcomes the South African Olympic team” shortly before the arrival of Jibril Rajoub, President of the Palestine Football Association.
It was a friendly international that was won 2-1 by South Africa who overturned a classic strike from a freekick by Mohammed Maraba in the 10th minute to reply through Abednigo Mosiatlhaga in the 35th minute before Yazan Iwaiwi handed the visitors a priceless victory when he turned Stanley Makgoka’s cross into his own net in the 85th minute.
But the significance of the occasion did not go unnoticed as gigantic banners draped the Eastern side of the Stadium bearing posters of the late Nelson Mandela and Yasser Arafat, the latter former President of the Palestine National Authority, Mahmoud Abbass as well as Rajoub, SA President Jacob Zuma and Fifa President Sepp Blatter.
In fact, a letter from Blatter directed to the South African Football Association President Danny Jordaan and read to the SA delegation shortly before kick-off captured the mood of the event succinctly, indicating that this was no ordinary match as there were heavy political undertones to the event.
“I would like to congratulate you on the organization of the friendly match between Palestine and South Africa in Hebron my dear brothers, dear Presidents, dear friends,” reads a part of Blatter’s letter to Jordaan.
“The match will not only be an excellent preparation for your qualifying campaigns for Rio 2016 but a great illustration of the solidarity that exists in football. South Africa is a country that knows too well what it means to fight for the cause of freedom, and I am sure that their team’s visit to Palestine will be a great encouragement to their Palestine brothers.”
But the solidarity and brotherhood was shelved as soon as the referee blew his whistle signaling the start of the match, with the home side knocking at the visitor’s door but repelled by a stout defending duo of Owen da Gama’s boys where both Lozenzo Gordinho and Sifiso Nkosi stood firm.
But after their poor organization in manning their wall which was breached by Maraba with a bending freekick that curled wickedly beyond the diving goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa in the 10th minute, South Africa closed shot and tightened their rearguard, then started asking questions of their own.
Sibusiso Mahlangu smashed his own free-kick from the edge of the box, but it sailed harmlessly over the bar in the 19th minute. But Palestine could not withstand the pressure for too long and eventually cracked when Khayelihle Shozi’s header was spilled by goalkeeper Rami Hamada and Mosiatlhaga leveled the score in the 35th minute.
Maraba was proving to be a nuisance and after breaking through the visitor’s rear-guard on a rare occasion, found himself with the goal in sight but hurriedly blasted his chance over the top from close range, it was to be the only time they ventured in the opposition half as the visitors turned on the charm and increased pressure with their one-touch passing game.
With the home side seemingly resigned to a stalemate, Makgoka raced down the right flank and his hard cross was expertly turned into goal by Iwaiwi in the 85th minute. Still SA kept pushing for another goal to record a convincing victory, but the hosts held firm and that turned out to be the final score.
SA were awarded gold medals and a floating trophy, with the FA President hinting that they wish to extend yet another invitation next year. For Da Gama, this was a perfect exercise to indicate whether he needs to strengthen the team or not ahead of Saturday’s All Africa Games qualifier against Sudan in Khartoum.
-TDN
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