South Africa host Palestine in charity match ‘Football for Humanity’

In a show of solidarity with Palestine and to demonstrate the power of sports in bridging divides, a charity match titled “Football for Humanity” will be held between Palestine and South Africa on Sunday. (Supplied)

• Charity match, held to highlight Palestinian cause, pledges significant portion of revenue to humanitarian efforts
• Fans are invited to join at Athlone Stadium or by tuning in online at http://www.hilaal.tv/

BEIRUT: In a show of solidarity with Palestine and to demonstrate the power of sports in bridging divides, a charity match titled “Football for Humanity” will be held between Palestine and South Africa on Sunday.
Cape Town’s famous Athlone Stadium will host the game between the Palestine National Football Team and the South African Invitational XI at 17:00 local time, according to a media statement issued by the South African Football Association.
The charity match, organized to highlight the Palestinian cause, pledges a significant portion of its revenue, including income from ticket sales and online streaming via www.hilaal.tv, to humanitarian efforts.
Fans and spectators, both in the stands and online, will be treated to a thrilling game, where skill, unity, and commitment from both teams will be on full display.
Organized by SAFA and the sports development organization Stepping Stones, the first of two charity matches was held between the Palestinian national team and Western Cape XI at the iconic Athlone Stadium on Feb. 11.
Soccer fans and supporters of the Palestinian cause turned up in large numbers. The home team won 1-0.
The “Football for Humanity” international showpiece, held under the theme “Peace, Hope, and Solidarity,” aims to provide Palestinian players with the opportunity to enjoy their favorite sport in conditions of peace and sound infrastructure.
The event also symbolizes South Africa’s historic solidarity with the people of Palestine in their struggle against Israel’s illegal occupation and violence.
The Palestine National Football Team, fresh from their historic achievement in the Asia Cup in Qatar, where they qualified for the Round of 16 for the first time, arrived in Cape Town on Feb. 8, 2024.
The Feb. 11 match held great significance, as it was on that date in 1990 that former President Nelson Mandela was released from prison, marking the victory of the liberation struggle against apartheid.
The match also saw a high-powered government delegation led by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor as well as Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis turning up at Athlone Stadium.
Ramaphosa recalled Mandela’s famous words: “We know all too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”
In reply, Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub thanked the hosting government for initiating a lawsuit against Israel, saying it served as a message that Palestinians are not isolated.
According to the PFA, the players who are expected to participate in Sunday’s friendly are Rami Hamada, Naim Abuaker, Baraa Kharoub, Bassam Abdallah, Issa Al-Mahdi, Ameed Sawafta, Ali Rabei, Bashar Shobaki, Oday Ali Kharoub, Samer Zubaida, Anas Bani Owda, Shaher Taweel, Wajdi Mohammed, Sadeq Ibrahim Obaid, Abdedlhamid Abu Qbita, Muath Barhoush, Ahmad Ahmad, Adham Khwailed, Yazan Jamal Sharha, Mahdi Assi, Layth Ali Kharoub, Mohammed Hasan Sandouka and Musaab Battat.