Mohammad Abu Al Ata (left) holds his trophy; Sa’id Yousef Odeh (right) had recently played for his Balta FC against Hilal of Jericho in the quarter-final of the Tokyo Cup. File

Gulf Today Report

The tragic demise of young footballers Sa’id Yousef Odeh and Mohammad Abu Al Ata of Balata FC youth team and Al Namaa respectively has put the Palestinian football under immense grief.

AFC President Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has expressed his deep anguish and conveyed his sincere condolences to the Palestinian football family. Odeh had recently played for played for his Balta Fc against Hilal of Jericho in the quarter-final of the Tokyo Cup.

According to information received by the AFC from the Palestine Football Association (PFA), Odeh was killed by Israeli soldiers in his home village of Huwarrah while Abu Al Ata died during the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.

“My heart goes out to the families and friends of Sa’id Odeh and Mohammad Abu Al Ata whose young and promising lives were tragically extinguished in the ongoing strife,” said Shaikh Salman. “I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families and loved ones of Sa’id and Mohammad,” added the AFC president.

Odeh, who was 16 years of age and the proud owner of jersey number 22, had played his last match with Balata against Hilal of Jericho on April 27 at Silwad in the Tokyo Tournament, reaching the Round of 16.

Abu Al Ata, a cousin of PFA executive committee member Salah Abu Al Ata, was a promising 15-year-old player with the Al Namaa club. The AFC President also wished a quick and full recovery to Gaza referee Sa’ied Abdelwahab who suffered a broken spine and was severely injured during the airstrikes.

The thoughts and prayers of the AFC and the rest of the Asian football community are with the loved ones and friends of Odeh and Abu Al Ata, the PFA and the Palestinian football family during this difficult time.