User blog:Porterfield/An American Player in Palestine

Well, he's not playing "in" Palestine by geographic technicalities, but Omar Jarun is playing for the people, their settlements, and the idea of Palestine. Born to a Palestinian father and American mother in Kuwait, Jarun was raised in Peachtree City, Georgia after his family fled the small Middle Eastern Kingdom. Omar was seven years old when Saddam Hussein's regime invaded Kuwait in 1990, and he remembers being terrified by the sounds of bombs and missiles. With an American mother, the family was able to flee to the states, which perhaps made it a blessing in disguise. He followed his passion more fervently in the American youth system, going on to play college ball and turning pro in Atlanta. At 6 feet 5 inches, Omar Jarun is now an imposing central defender playing for FC Tampa Bay in the NASL. He always dreamed of playing for the Unite States, but an opportunity arose from an unexpected place in 2007.

That year, Omar made his first appearance with the Palestine National Football Team. Although Palestine isn't recognized by the United Nations as an official state, FIFA gives them enough recognition to field a team for the World Cup. This past weekend, the man with American, Kuwaiti, and Palestinian nationalities represented al-Fida'i (the Fighters) in 2 legs of a World Cup qualifying battle against Afghanistan. Omar Jarun, his big blonde Mohawk, and a determined Palestinian team won the first match 2-0 and tied the second match 1-1, advancing them to the next round. He may look out of place on a Middle Eastern side, but Omar Jarun is just one of al-Fida'i, playing his heart out to get to the World Cup.

Video
Wait till you hear Omar Jarun's Southern drawl come out of nowhere in this great al-Jazeera piece on the Palestinian national team.

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