Soccer Dream Team in Bethlehem University

Summary and Translation of the Article in Yediot Ahronot Hebrew Newspaper of 4 March 2005

Trainer of the female soccer team, Samar Al-Araj Mousa, wants to succeed where others have failed, and she is hopeful that her team of women trainees will succeed.

Samar founded the women’s soccer team in Bethlehem University with Ra’ed Al-Hreimi, another trainer. It has always been Ra’ed’s dream to train a women’s soccer team. So far the team has played in Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt, and has won an award for being the most courteous team.

One year ago, Samar thought of the idea and she started recruiting players from the women’s basketball team in Bethlehem University and from area schools. She found girls from all walks of life: rich, poor, Christians, Moslems, from the cities, villages, and refugee camps. In a survey carried out by Samar, she found out that 85% of the people in the Bethlehem area were supportive to the idea of establishing a women’s soccer team. When Samar was busy recruiting female athletes, she met Honey Thaljiyeh, who is an outstanding player. Now Honey is the Captain of the Team. When Honey played in Jordan, teams there expressed willingness to recruit her. Honey is the daughter of a tile mason and both her father and uncle are great soccer fans.

Last summer, in order to go on a tournament, the female athletes left Bethlehem University at 3:00 AM, yet they found in front of them approximately 100 cars waiting at the checkpoint. They were stopped again at a checkpoint near Ma’ale Admuim settlement. The athletes crossed the Jordan Bridge after waiting there for 18 hours, and they had to play a game at 7:00 PM.