A day in the life of a footballer in Gaza

Mohammed Al-Sharif was once another teenager in Gaza aspiring to become a pro footballer. In an exclusive interview with Sports Politika, he reveals how Israel's war extinguished that dream.

Mohammed Al-Sharif posing with a Palestinian flag on the ruins of Gaza (Credit: Mohammed Al-Sharif)

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There was once a time when Mohammed Al-Sharif’s life in Gaza held a simple beauty filled with the freedom to roam his city and the unending joy of playing football. However, since October 7, 2023, Israel’s relentless bombardment has not only extinguished that simple beauty, but also forced athletes like Al-Sharif—a young footballer aspiring to turn professional—to grapple with a grim reality where survival overshadows ambition.

The 18-year-old Al-Sharif began his football journey at Al Aqsa Club before joining Gaza Sports Club. However, with the onset of the war, he was forced to leave his city, seeking safety, and his footballing dreams had to be pushed aside. “The war has changed many concepts for me. Before the war, football was a refuge, a place to escape daily pressures, and a source of joy. Now there is no football and my life has changed to the daily suffering of meeting the needs of the house and looking for work to help my family,” Al-Sharif shared through Instagram messages.

Despite the constant danger, Al-Sharif risks it all for the love of the game. About a month and a half ago, he and a group of friends took up training again, determined to maintain their fitness and hold onto a semblance of normalcy amid the chaos. “This is a personal effort from us to maintain our physical fitness,” he said.

Yet even this small act of normalcy is fraught with peril. The journey to their makeshift training ground is brimming with danger, but every practice session is a reclamation of their passion. “There is a difficulty that we face due to the danger of the road and the place because there is no safe place in Gaza. Everyone is exposed to danger, especially the small stadium that we go to.”Al-Sharif added.

Then there was the loss of his older brother, Mahmoud, last year, whom had a “great impact” on Al-Sharif’s life. Mahmoud was only 24 years old when he was killed in an Israeli airstrike. “He was outside the house trying to buy food, and when he returned home, a house on the road was bombed. A shrapnel from a missile hit him in the heart and he was killed instantly.”