Heady feelings filled the Lyari Stadium today at the second football match between Pakistan and Palestine. A modest but enthusiastic crowd gathered to support not only their own Pakistani football team, but even the Palestinian side. The enthusiasm for the welcome visitors was so great that sometimes it was difficult to spot where the real Palestinian supporters were seated.
The visitors’ native support was provided by a large group of Palestinian students from Hyderabad, who had taken a break from studies and come in just to support their team. They quickly set up a festive atmosphere in their stand – playing Darbukas and cheering with native songs and slogans, even the occasional “Pakistan Zindabad!”
The stadium was about half full but the crowd was lively and went on to enjoy the drawn match, where it seemed that the true winner was the game of football itself. – Text and photography by Nadir Siddiqui
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hey fasih that one you nice boy and who is other one man ?
While it's great to see such solidarity b/w pakistani and palestinian men, it's no big surprise. And when the foundation of that solidarity stems from an intense hatred of a 3rd party, doesn't it become cheap? It's pretty easy to love the enemy of your enemy.
Now if we could see this kind of solidarity among the various ethinicities of Pakistan, that would be something. Pakistanis care more about the fate of Palestinians than they do of the christian or hindu vendor who has worked at the corner store for decades.
A wonderful gesture from Sindh and Pakistan football associations … our brothers from Palestine deserve the warm welcome.
if there is anyone who knows how to enjoy a game, without the political inhibitions, its the students… mildly corrupted, but still in tune with the spirit of sportsmanship. thank god for that, and this shows… there is still hope! hope for reforms!
as for the game… any game played sincerely, in the spirit of sportsmanship, will always be a winner. infact, anything done sincerely, will always be a winner!!!
way to go people!!!
Who ever organised these matches should be commended for bringing our Palestinian brothers from the cold. After years of humiliation at the hands of Zionists-Christian-Crusaders the Pakistani people have shown the courage to recognise the right of the Palestinian people to exist.