Soccer Team Helps Palestinians Heal War Wounds
2021-12-12
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1A Palestinian soccer team has been formed with players who have lost limbs as a result of fighting between Israeli and Palestinian forces.
2It is the first Palestinian national soccer team of its kind.
3The players say the organization helps them deal with the physical and mental effects of their war wounds.
4The players come from a population that has grown in recent years, as fighting intensified between Israel and the Palestinian Authority's Hamas rulers.
5Hamas is an Islamic militant group.
6One of the players is 41-year-old Ziad Abu Halib.
7He lost his right leg in 2008 during the first Israel-Hamas war and has been on the team since 2019.
8He told The Associated Press he has never missed a training session or game.
9"We feel we have something, we can give something," Abu Halib said.
10The rules are governed by the World Amputee Football Federation.
11Players leave their prosthetic limbs off the field and use crutches to move around.
12The crutches cannot be used to direct the ball.
13The International Committee of the Red Cross worked with the Palestinian Amputee Football Association to set up the national team.
14The players hope to compete with teams from other countries.
15They are seeking to take part in the 2022 Amputee Football World Cup in Turkey next October.
16This will require them to attend qualifying competitions in Iran in March.
17They will be able to make the trip if the border opens to permit them to travel through Egypt.
18Simon Baker is a Red Cross advisor and creator of the Irish Amputee Football Association.
19He recently oversaw the final training session of the season in the Gaza Strip.
20His job was to choose 20 players from a group of 47 representing different Gaza teams.
21"They were tested (for) speed, agility, fitness and also looking at the skill," Baker said.
22"We want the player that has everything" and is also a team player, he added.
23Gaza is home to an estimated 1,600 amputees out of a population of more than 2 million.
24Baker first visited Gaza in 2019, as violent protests were taking place along the territory's heavily-guarded border with Israel.
25His goal was to create a whole league for amputees.
26He spent time training players and officials and was able to organize a league with five teams and more than 100 players.
27He also started a league for younger amputees, which includes players as young as 5 years old.
28Baker stays away from discussing politics.
29He told the AP his main goal is "to create an environment whereby the players come to the field and they leave the trauma behind."
30I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A Palestinian soccer team has been formed with players who have lost limbs as a result of fighting between Israeli and Palestinian forces. 2It is the first Palestinian national soccer team of its kind. The players say the organization helps them deal with the physical and mental effects of their war wounds. 3The players come from a population that has grown in recent years, as fighting intensified between Israel and the Palestinian Authority's Hamas rulers. Hamas is an Islamic militant group. 4One of the players is 41-year-old Ziad Abu Halib. He lost his right leg in 2008 during the first Israel-Hamas war and has been on the team since 2019. He told The Associated Press he has never missed a training session or game. "We feel we have something, we can give something," Abu Halib said. 5The rules are governed by the World Amputee Football Federation. Players leave their prosthetic limbs off the field and use crutches to move around. The crutches cannot be used to direct the ball. 6The International Committee of the Red Cross worked with the Palestinian Amputee Football Association to set up the national team. 7The players hope to compete with teams from other countries. They are seeking to take part in the 2022 Amputee Football World Cup in Turkey next October. This will require them to attend qualifying competitions in Iran in March. They will be able to make the trip if the border opens to permit them to travel through Egypt. 8Simon Baker is a Red Cross advisor and creator of the Irish Amputee Football Association. He recently oversaw the final training session of the season in the Gaza Strip. His job was to choose 20 players from a group of 47 representing different Gaza teams. 9"They were tested (for) speed, agility, fitness and also looking at the skill," Baker said. "We want the player that has everything" and is also a team player, he added. 10Gaza is home to an estimated 1,600 amputees out of a population of more than 2 million. 11Baker first visited Gaza in 2019, as violent protests were taking place along the territory's heavily-guarded border with Israel. His goal was to create a whole league for amputees. He spent time training players and officials and was able to organize a league with five teams and more than 100 players. He also started a league for younger amputees, which includes players as young as 5 years old. 12Baker stays away from discussing politics. He told the AP his main goal is "to create an environment whereby the players come to the field and they leave the trauma behind." 13I'm Bryan Lynn. 14The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 15We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 16__________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18amputee - n. a person who has lost an arm or leg 19prosthetic - n. an artificial body part, such as an arm, leg or foot, that replaces a missing part 20crutches - n. sticks with a handle that help people with foot or leg injuries walk 21qualify - v. to succeed in getting into a competition 22agility - n. the ability to move your body quickly and easily 23league - n. a group of sports teams that take part in competitions with each other 24trauma - n. severe and lasting emotional shock and pain caused by an extremely difficult and upsetting experience