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Syrian Football Battle: Friendly Match as Appeal for Peace

© Sputnik ArabicPeace football in Syria
Peace football in Syria - Sputnik International
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Syrian authorities have organized football matches in Damascus and Aleppo in an attempt to reconcile the warring parties. The militants of the armed opposition have been also invited but they have turned down the offer. Sputnik Arabic meanwhile has not missed the opportunity to cheer up the players.

Ali Haidar, Minister of the Syrian State for National Reconciliation Affairs has called the match an appeal for reconciliation, hoping that the sporting ethics would serve as an example to settle the dispute, overcome differences and return to unity.

The teams of teachers of Damascus University and amateur team Nujum Syria ("The Stars of Syria") have taken the field in Damascus.
The "Stars" won 10 goals to 9.

"The score is not the main point here, but that normal life is going on in Syria," student organizer Bashar Zaabalavi told Sputnik Arabic.

Walid Abu as-Sal, responsible for the organization of sporting events in the University, told the agency that the main message of the match is to demonstrate to the whole world that Syria is alive and capable of being united.

© Sputnik ArabicPeace football in Syria
Peace football in Syria - Sputnik International
Peace football in Syria

Secondly, it is an appeal to the young people to compete in sports but not in politics, he said.

Behaa Abbas, the head of the Basil al-Asad football club said that the country is witnessing the revival of university and college sporting teams and that soon competitions and matches will held all over the country.

In Aleppo, the teams of the eastern and western parts of the city have taken the field. The score is 5:5. Ali Haidar, who was present at the match handed out medals to all the participants and wished the citizens to stay united as they did during the game.

Religious and political views do not matter for the game as absolutely different people can meet on the football field without embarrassment.

Match invitations have been sent as text messages to mobile phones and have also been distributed in leaflets.

The leaflets were distributed in the districts of eastern Aleppo occupied by Daesh. The papers read: "Militants you are invited to take part or watch the football match which is going to take place at Hamdaniya stadium on Thursday at 12:00 noon."

The leaflets also asked to provide an opportunity to local residents to get to the match should they wish to.

However the militants have so far not replied.

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