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14 Established 1961 Sports Wednesday, April 18, 2018 Football ‘miracle’ offers shared goal for war-torn Yemen ‘Qualification has brought Yemenis together’ ADEN: A “miracle” winning streak has propelled Yemen’s FOOTBALL, NOT POLITICS senior and youth football teams to the Asian Cup, catch- Paradoxically, Yemeni football has benefited from the ing the war-torn nation’s attention and offering a common war, with senior players relocated to a training camp in goal to a divided country. Qualification is a first ever for Qatar, which has the most up-to-date facilities as it builds the senior team, currently based in Qatar, and a rare up to hosting the 2022 World Cup. Abd al-Salam al- achievement for the under-16s who still train in Yemen. Saadi, a coach in Sanaa, sees another key factor: “The “Qualification has brought players have not been drawn Yemenis together-they’re into politics.” Yemen’s war doing us proud,” said Ahmed has left infrastructure, homes, Sabahi, a fan in the southern schools and ports in ruins. port city of Aden. “All Dozens of stadiums have Yemenis are behind their It has helped been bombed or turned into team,” he said. military camps for various Yemen’s war pitting pro- put smile on the armed factions. government forces supported For football fans back by a Saudi-led coalition home, Yemen’s successful against Iran-backed Shiite face of youths qualification offers a glimmer Huthi rebels entered its of hope and a distraction fourth year in March. from everyday life in what The conflict has left nearly was the Arab world’s poorest 10,000 people dead, tens of thousands wounded and cre- country even before the war.
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