#young players of afghan football team

[tezlivenews]

पुर्तगाल पहुंची अफगान महिला फुटबॉल टीम, 15 साल की खिलाड़ी बोली- घर लौटूंगी अगर...

पुर्तगाल पहुंची अफगान महिला फुटबॉल टीम, 15 साल की खिलाड़ी बोली- घर लौटूंगी अगर…

लिस्बनअफगानिस्तान में तालिबान की वापसी के बाद कई लोग अपना घर और जमीन छोड़ने के लिए मजबूर हुए। अफगान राष्ट्रीय महिला युवा फुटबॉल टीम की खिलाड़ी भी उनमें से एक हैं। 15 साल की फुटबॉल खिलाड़ी सारा कहती हैं कि अपने घर अफगानिस्तान को छोड़ना दर्दनाक था। लेकिन अब वह पुर्तगाल में हैं और सुरक्षित हैं। भविष्य में वह प्रफेश्नल फुटबॉल प्लेयर बनना चाहती हैं। उनका सपना अपने पसंदीदा खिलाड़ी क्रिस्टियानो रोनाल्डो…

[brianbritigan]

Illustration for a NPLH Magazine feature about Farkhunda Muhtaj, captain of the Afghanistan women's national football team, who played a pivotal role in navigating the safe evacuation of 26 young female Afghan players and their family members as the country fell back into the hands of the Taliban — Many thanks to Joseph Fordham for pairing me with this amazing story!

[tandygoff-blog]

The denizens of the colonies tried

Khadraoui, who ran 2:11.3 for the last 800, 62.5 for the last 400 and 30.6 for the last 200, is confident about his chances of breaking Byrne's state indoor record. "That record will go, " said Khadraoui nfl jerseys, who came back later to take third in the 1,600 in 4:27.30. Khadraoui's next shot at the state two mile record will come Feb.

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cheap nfl jerseys The denizens of the colonies tried, till the last moment, to avert a constitutional (and, consequently, military) crisis. They suggested a model of two semi autonomous nations (the United Kingdom and the colonies), united by the figurehead of the King. But it was too little and way too late.  

wholesale jerseys No one was injured.Then on Sunday night, five explosive devices were discovered in a rubbish bin at an Elizabeth train station.Preet Bharara, US attorney for the southern district of Manhattan, said there was "no indication that there's a cell operating in the area or in the city."Donald Trump seized on the fact that the suspect was an Afghan immigrant to boost support for his controversial proposal to bar Muslims from entering the US. He insisted he had "predicted" the attacks and that the country, under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, had become "weak".Mrs Clinton, in turn, accused him of helping Isil recruiters with his rhetoric against Islam.Suspicion remains that Rahami had outside assistance or training in order to assemble the eight bombs used in the attacks.A woman claiming to be Rahani's high school sweetheart said the father of her childdemonstrated his hatred for the USmilitary."One time https://www.cheapjerseysaleusa.com, he was watching TV with my daughter and a woman in a [military] uniform came on and he told [their daughter], 'That's the bad person,'" the woman, who was identified only as Maria, told Fox News.Rahani "would speak often of Western culture and how it was different back home," she also told Fox, "How there weren't homosexuals in Afghanistan."Maria said that Rahami failed to pay support for thedaughter they had together."I didn't want him to see my daughter," she said. "If he loved her, he would have paid child support.  wholesale jerseys

cheap nfl jerseys If, you know, exercise bikes were real bikes. On the other hand, the Colts run defense had trouble stopping Matt Forte Sunday. This week: Adrian Peterson. It's good that Sev offers the additional detail, because when he mentions that Kai had spoken of Grey, the Guardsman's jaw sets, a mulish look stealing across his features. And then he lets out a breath, forcing himself to relax again, "Pleased to meet you, Sev kom Trikru." There are few Trigedasleng words that he does not mispronounce, but those last two, at least, he can manage. His dark eyes brighten a little at the topic of discussion, "Yeah football.  cheap nfl jerseys

wholesale jerseys from china This stadium is named after the first President of Indonesia, Sukarno. It was opened in 1962 and has a range of facilities like a tennis stadium, an indoor gymnasium, an archery field, an aquatics arena, a softball and a hockey field as well! The temu gelang, which is the huge ring formed by the gigantic steel roof, is the main feature of this stadium. It enhances the grandeur of the stadium.

[letsjanukhan]

Dozens of Afghan girls from national youth football team and families trapped

Dozens of Afghan girls from national youth football team and families trapped

Dozens of young players from the Afghan Girls National Youth Football Team and their families are currently trapped in hiding in Afghanistan, The Independent can reveal. A letter, seen by The Independent, asked Pakistan’s Prime Minister to urgently allow 32 girls to enter the nation – warning “time is running out” and the girls are at risk of “grave threats” from the Taliban and “disintegrating…

[lollipoplollipopoh]

Afghan United: Hope through Football for Refugees in Iran | Al Jazeera World by Al Jazeera English For a group of alienated young Afghan refugees in Iran, football proves a powerful force that gives them a much-needed boost in pride, identity and self-worth. They call their team 'Wahdat' meaning 'unity' and assemble a talented and determined squad. They overcome all the odds to form a team, obtain sponsorship and enter one of the Iranian futsal, five-a-side competitions played in evenings after iftar during Ramadan. They not only make it through the early rounds but go on to win the final and lift the Ramadan Cup. But this is about more than football. It's about young men trying to rise above their circumstances and their daily struggle to survive - and succeeding. Afghans have been seeking refuge in Iran since the 1970s but they and their families are largely unregistered. Although they can go to school, they cannot attend university, or work as civil servants or in most white-collar jobs. So they're limited to manual work, often in construction. "I want a better job but I'm still grateful for this one. There are many people without jobs," says Reza Ghaljayi, a Wahdat player working as a building labourer. "Companies don't hire us ... We work for one day, then nothing for four days," says street trader and Wahdat team supervisor Dastagir Barik Zehi. Many young Afghans do not feel welcome in shopping malls or places of entertainment and claim widespread discrimination. "You get attached to the place where you're born. I was born, studied, married and grew up here. But, unfortunately, I don't have a residence permit or an ID," says another footballer, Mojtaba Haji Hosseini. For many, football is their only social outlet and can be their salvation. "Only football motivates us to live. If there was no football, I don't know what we'd do or where we'd go," says Reza. The Wahdat team is strong. One of them once played for Afghanistan Under-20s. But the last time they took part in a Ramadan tournament two years ago, there was violence on and off the pitch, blacklisting them in their hometown. It takes all captain Nasir Zouri's organisational powers to get them into a competition in another town - and find a sponsor prepared to back them. That would normally just involve funding, but here it also means having enough influence to ensure the players' welfare and safety during the tournament. Afghan United is a touching and rarely-told story about a disadvantaged community, but with a positive, life-affirming outcome - in the footballing sense, at least. - More from Al Jazeera World on: YouTube - http://bit.ly/2bwus2u Facebook - http://bit.ly/2bFCW4Z Twitter - https://twitter.com/AlJazeera_World Visit our website - http://bit.ly/2bwuzLt Subscribe to AJE on YouTube - http://bit.ly/2bFDsA1 - - Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/291RaQr - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1iHo6G4 - Check our website: http://bit.ly/2lOp4tL

[toldnews-blog]

New Post has been published on https://toldnews.com/sports/against-all-odds-womens-football-a-vision-for-the-future/

'Against all odds': Women's football -- a vision for the future

The women footballers of Afghanistan have been faced by opposition and roadblocks on all sides — from families, from society and from a national Football Federation that was happy to accept FIFA funding for women’s football, but unwilling to support the ambitions of players and staff who wanted to make the women’s game successful across the country.

[Editor’s note: The Afghanistan Football Federation did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment]

Despite this, Afghanistan’s women have maintained their determination to play football and excel on the international stage against all odds.

If women will go to those lengths to play football, we can only imagine how the women’s game will develop under the right global conditions.

Men’s football may have a 111-year head start, but with the required shifts in culture and governance, the women’s game will explode.

READ: FIFA investigates Afghan football body over women’s team abuse

READ: Death threats and football — how Khalida Popal escaped the Taliban

A change in perspective — football is football

For the women’s game to thrive worldwide, a fundamental shift in perspective is needed.

Too often men and women’s football are treated differently, and this ultimately stems from a failure to recognize that both games constitute ‘football’, the same sport that brings joy, passion and pride to people all over the world.

Both the men’s game and the women’s game have their own unique strengths and challenges, but a basic recognition that “football is football” will transform how the women’s game is valued and developed.

Only when the women’s game is viewed and managed as equal to the men’s game will football authorities invest in women’s football as they currently invest in the men’s football.

I do not define investment here in a narrow sense. This is about much more than money. It’s about devoting the required resources, care and attention to ensure that governance systems will protect and encourage women and girls playing football.

Failings in governance damage the women’s game

In many clubs, academies and federations globally, the women’s game is a “tick the box activity”.

FIFA itself contributes to that culture by failing to hold its member associations accountable for a lack of effective governance, oversight and accountability in women’s football.

As soon as a member association realizes that it can get away with diverting funds and expertise out of the women’s game, it’s only a matter of time before corruption, abuse, and intolerance will take hold and women will suffer.

If FIFA does not enforce the governance systems needed to develop the women’s game, how can we expect their member associations to do so?

[Editor’s note: FIFA did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment]

READ: US women’s soccer team honors Cardi B, Malala and Beyoncé on jerseys

READ: England’s win proves France 2019 will be a real battle

Autonomous Female Leadership

What the game requires is more than just protection for women and girls playing football. That is a basic human right. FIFA and wider governing bodies must also ensure that women have an autonomous voice in the development of the game.

So many women in federations are given a silent role with no budget and no decision-making autonomy. Female leadership should not be ceremonial and should entail management of budgets and direct lines of communication to governing bodies.

Autonomous female leaders are best placed to drive the growth of the women’s game. We know that young girls play football for different reasons to boys.

Women leaders steeped in football can educate clubs, academies and federations on these differences and teach them how to develop environments that girls love to play in.

This will ensure that grassroots football meets the needs of young girls leading to greater participation and opportunities.

Ultimately, this will lead to genuine changes in cultural attitudes to sport, as communities will start to value football and sport as spaces where their young women can grow.

With the support of communities, the growth of grassroots football will in turn have a huge knock-on impact on the professional game, but also on wider society, as more girls will have the opportunity to develop mentally, socially and physically through football.

It starts with all of us

The mentality of women athletes, in football and sport more generally, shows the power of unity.

Female athletes around the world have moved on from a “thank you for the opportunity” mentality to a “we want to be the best to achieve our potential” mentality.

This is getting results and sport governing bodies are starting to realize that they must respond to this change if they are to maintain any credibility.

However, the power of unity extends to fans as well. If as fans, we still align with everyday sexist behaviour and innate gender, racial, and socio-economic biases then we will fail to hold football’s governing bodies to account.

There is power in numbers and if fans stand in solidarity with women athletes, we send the strongest possible message that nothing less than full equality will do. It is our collective responsibility as a global football and sporting community to stand together and hold governing bodies accountable for their actions.

The work is already underway

There are many organisations out there filling the void currently left by governing bodies in world sport. I recently attended a roundtable event hosted by Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, the Founder of the international social enterprise AFDP Global.

This important event was designed to co-ordinate current efforts to support the women footballers of Afghanistan. Since then, I have been working with AFDP Global to promote genuine inclusiveness, accessibility and good governance in women’s football.

These are challenges that are by no means limited to the women’s game and that’s why AFDP Global has set out to unite and transform communities around the world through football.

Their ultimate aim is to ensure that the power of football reaches young people in need, irrespective of their race, religion, social background, or gender.

Representative bodies with authority over women’s football and sport in general must support the efforts of organisations like AFDP Global and act now for an inclusive world game.

To ensure the growth of women’s sport, principled decisions need to be made to give autonomy to female leaders, as well as proper investment in and protection of female athletes.

If women’s football is going to fulfil its potential and truly thrive, much more needs to be done, and soon.

Football is a vehicle to developing intelligent, powerful, and accountable women that nations will stand on the shoulders of one day!

International Women’s Day is a valuable opportunity to pose an important question to football’s governing bodies directly — what are you doing to make this a reality for young girls and women around the world?

[footballghana]

World Refugee Day: Goal Click and UNHCR on football's global impact

  Goal Click tells stories about football around the world, using photography. In the lead-up to World Refugee Day, Goal Click and UNHCR sent disposable cameras to refugees and asylum seekers around the world to document their personal tales. This is Bahram Mia. "I was born in Peshawar, Pakistan, the son of Afghan refugees as a result of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. I came to Australia with my parents and three brothers when I was seven years old, and grew up here in Sydney, where I have graduated from university and work as a community development worker with migrant and refugee communities. The photo shows Team Congo during their quarter-final of the African Cup tournament in 2018. The tournament sees Sydney and Australia's African diaspora participate. I tried to convey the pride, passion and intensity which these young African men hold not only towards the African Cup tournament but also representing their homelands."

Shegofa Hassani: "I came to Australia as a nine-year-old. We fled Afghanistan because of the conflict as we did not see a safe future there. I started playing football in the park with my brothers and dad. I am currently a player and coach with Football United. Now I manage an Afghan team called Sydney United Girls. The photo shows Shogofa Rahimi at a training session. Shogofa was also raised in a family full of sporty boys. Her passion for football started as a child when she played with her brothers. However, she hesitated to pursue it further because of cultural barriers and her family. After years of giving up hope of playing football, she finally got the opportunity to play with Sydney United Girls, when her brother introduced her to the team."

Sofia Wais, at the Homeless World Cup, Cardiff: "I'm Sofia. I am 19 years old, from Afghanistan, and I was raised in Iran. I have been living with my family in Austria for four years and have six older brothers. I was not allowed to play football as a girl in Iran. I am very happy that I am allowed to live in Austria. There are many opportunities for women here. I love football and my food is just a ball - it gives me energy. I've also had tough days because of football, but for me, life is like a carousel and it always turns."

"My name is Khadija Ahmadi. I am 20 and originally from Afghanistan. I came to Austria at the end of 2015. A year later, I heard from a supervisor in the youth accommodation where I was staying that there was an opportunity here for women to play football. This is how I came to the Kicken Ohne Grenzen team. The photo shows my first day as a referee. I wanted to remember this moment. Through football and my new friends, I’ve been able to find myself again. When I say that, people may think that it’s an easy thing to say. But in my case it was different. I didn’t know the language; I didn't know anyone."

"My name is Saleha Kashfi and I’m 17 years old. I come from Afghanistan. I wanted to play football before I came to Austria, but I didn’t have a chance to play for security reasons. When I play football, I forget about my problems. I think about winning and fun and feel no pain or troubles."

Yvan Bikambo, coach with Red Deporte in East Cameroon: "These photos reflect the activity of the Public School of Bindia in East Cameroon, a school supported and built by Red Deporte in 2012. Red Deporte is an NGO, using football to promote performance in school. These kids belong to the community and many of them are refugees from Central African Republic because Cameroon and Central African Republic are neighbours. Most of the children know how to play football because they used to play in their home country."

Yvan Bikambo: "We work to bring them joy, peace and hope through our programme. Every Cameroonian boy dreams to be Samuel Eto’o, but even if they won't be that, they enjoy the dreaming and the process of personal improvement, and the friendship that is built on the way to this dream."

Daniele: "I am a 24-year-old student. I'm currently living in Koblenz, Germany. I was introduced to football in Syria by a school friend when I was in the first class (aged six) in 2002. These photos were taken at the training of TuS International in the German city of Koblenz. The majority of the players are refugees who are living in a camp for asylum seekers - they are Syrian, Iranian, Afghani, Somalian and Eritrean. The local team TuS Koblenz, which is playing in the fifth division in Germany, decided to form a team for the refugees who are living in Koblenz - to give them the chance to integrate into German society and establish a new life in Koblenz."

Reval: "I left Aleppo in Syria because of the war when I was 12 years old with my father and brother - it was too dangerous for us. We had to leave my mother and two small sisters behind. The photos were taken in Skaramagas refugee camp in Athens, Greece. They are girls participating in a football programme. These girls had suffered enough in their countries and on their way to Europe and they were still living under extremely difficult situations in a refugee camp in Greece. Many times they were facing danger during the night, many times there were a lot of fights in the camp. But, despite what they had to deal with, they didn't give up on football. Everything around them was so hard but through football, they were still happy."

Sadio Malang: "I come from Senegal. I left Senegal because there was a bad situation in my region Casamance - there was an ongoing war. I play for Senza Frontiere Football Club (Without Borders) in Italy. Most of the photos show the refugees’ football team of Balon Mundial, Senza Frontiere Football Club (it used to be called Hearts of Eagle). This is a football team formed by refugees and asylum seekers that practises all year and during the summer participates in Balon Mundial -the World Cup of Migrant Communities."

"My name is Maram. I am from Syria, I am 14 and I live with my family that consists of nine people, and now we live in Zaatari camp, near the Syrian border, Jordan."

Maram: "The photos were taken of our girls' football team in a Makani centre in Zaatari camp. I wanted to show our skills in football, the game that I find hope in for my future. When I play football it raises my spirits and it reinforces my self-confidence. Because I am a girl, I can be the person that changes how the community perceives girls’ football and breaks the wall of shame."

Maram: "My wish is to strengthen my skills in football so I can achieve my dream and become a famous footballer, and to travel with my family and play football outside the camp."

"My name is Abdelrahman Hasan al-Attar. These are photos of kids from different families playing street football in my neighbourhood of Hashem Shemali in East Amman. It's historically a refugee area and has more poverty than West Amman. Many have Palestinian heritage. Some of them are my cousins. Even without proper football pitches and regardless of the environment we can adapt and our love of football prevails."

Ismail M Abdalla, Kakuma: "I am 29 and originally from Kalemie in Tanganyika province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I am currently volunteering as a program manager with Faulu Production, a community-based organisation supporting refugees, disadvantaged youth and women, and vulnerable children. Refugees are real people who can enjoy the same full rights as others regardless of their status. Football brings people together and thus creates coexistence and social interaction; it serves as the way for community mobilisation and participation. I play football with Kenyans. Kenyans are good people with a good cultural background. They welcome everyone into their community."

David Philip: "I am from the Nuba Mountains in Sudan. Sudan has never been at peace since I was born, especially in the Nuba region. When I left my home with my family in 2006, Sudan and South Sudan were still one country. We went to Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya where we got support from UNHCR. I spent my childhood as a refugee in Kenya, like many other Sudanese who fled the country. The photos show children and the volunteers of Green Kordofan in Yida refugee camp in South Sudan."

David Philip: "About 60,000 people displaced from their homes by the war live in Yida. Football allowed me to have many friends from different tribes and around the world. It brought me peace and unity with people."

Jacob Viera: "In Liverpool, I play with asylum seekers and refugees from Syria, Sudan, Eritrea and Afghanistan. They fled because of war and conflicts in their countries. Listening to the challenges they have faced and gone through is so painful. Football is important because it is a universal language. I was a professional footballer and played in the Kenyan Premier League for Muhoroni Youth FC. My dream is to become an international Fifa referee. I am part of the FA CORE (Centre of Refereeing Excellence) program. In two or three years I could be a Football League referee. I think I would be one of the first professional referees in the UK from a refugee background."

Mehdi Rakhshandeh: "I was born in Rasht, a city in the north of Iran. I played football regularly as a goalkeeper in Iran - not at a high level or anything, just games with my friends from the local town. I was a sports photographer and reporter in Iran for 15 years. This is a little girl watching football. I think it shows her passion for football. She is in such an awkward position holding herself up against the metal fence but is just excited and wants to watch the football no matter what. It was a football tournament in Middlesbrough during Refugee Week called the Justice First Football Tournament."

Mehdi Rakhshandeh: "Football played a big role in my life as I got accustomed to my new surroundings of the UK and Middlesbrough in particular. I played each week with MFC Foundation and it helped me to meet new people, learn about my new surroundings and improve my English. The football club really made me feel welcome and part of the community."

Samuel Gedeon: "I'm from Haiti, where I discovered one of my biggest passions, which is soccer. I used to play soccer in the streets - futsal - and I had joined some clubs and played real soccer a few times with my friends. In 2015 I moved to NYC with the hopes of finding a good soccer team, but when I came everyone played basketball. With determination in 2017, I found Rooklyn, a Brooklyn-based organisation using soccer to work with refugee, asylee and immigrant youth and provide a space for connection with their peers in a safe and supportive environment."

Fawzi: "I am a football coach. I was playing back in Syria and I was a professional player. I started playing football with al-Shul'a football team in Syria in 2009. I left Daraa in Syria because of the war. The photos are of Blumont students in the playgrounds of District 5, Zaatari, Jordan. Blumont runs the UNHCR community centres. The students are refugees who attend the community's activities. I tried to demonstrate the children’s suffering and represent their story."

Gharam: "The photos show my friends in the Uefa playground in District 9, Zaatari, Jordan. I wanted to show that football can be played by everyone. The photos were during a football tournament in the camp. I did not play before I came to Jordan because of the war. In the beginning, I couldn’t develop my skills, but now I have. I dream of being a famous footballer."

Mahmoud: "I started to love sports when I was a child in Daraa in Syria, and now a day of sports helps me to heal from the depression and sadness in the camp. I played football in my country Syria with my school team but left because of the war. My ambition is to play with a European football team. The photos show children and people inside the Zaatari camp playing football on the playground and streets, and a football field on the edge of the camp."

Source: BBC

source: https://footballghana.com/

[harryandmeghan0-blog]

Royal Marines reveal how special bonds with England stars Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling help World Cup bid

New Post has been published on https://harryandmeghan.xyz/royal-marines-reveal-how-special-bonds-with-england-stars-harry-kane-and-raheem-sterling-help-world-cup-bid/

Royal Marines reveal how special bonds with England stars Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling help World Cup bid

A TEAM of battle hardened Royal Marines have revealed reveal how their “special” bonds with England’s football players is helping the Three Lions conquer Russia.

England’s starlets were so impressed by the crack Commandos after a training weekend before the World Cup, they stayed in touch.

England’s World Cup squad led by Harry Kane were so impressed by the crack Commandos like Cpl Ben Williams after a training weekend before the World Cup, they stayed in touch

Personal numbers were swapped with the “humbled” Royal Marines – who have been urging on their comrades to campaign glory ever since.

Afghan veterans Sgt Keiron Prosser, Cpl Ben Williams and Cpl Danny Bowcock, from the Commando Training Centre Lympstone were part of a “handpicked” team to take the England squad through a tough training weekend.

Their mission was to install the Commando spirit of, “courage, determination, cheerfulness and unselfishness”.

Die-hard Manchester United fan Cpl Ben Williams, 30, from Bucks, said: “They do the kicking and we do the firing, and that’s all that matters on the battlefield.

Raheem Sterling and other England players formed special bonds with commandos including Cpl Ben Williams and have kept in touch

“For us, when the rounds go down and we are in contact with the enemy the only people that matter, are the ones left and right of you, your friends.

“That’s what we wanted to get across to the team, and it’s something they really took away. It’s about getting through that adverse moment, getting through the enemy, or getting through playing a hard team, and coming out the other end victorious.”

Kyle Walker, John Stones, Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard celebrate Sweden win with tribute dance to class of Italia ’90

The England squad – including manger Gareth Southgate – spent 48 hours in woods near the Royal Marines’ base roughing it in the wilds in June, weeks before they set off for Russia.

They arrived at St George’s training base expecting a meeting – but players had their mobile phones seized before being driven to Devon for surprise bout of intense team-bonding.

Their “shared hardship” camping in woods huddled round a small fire forged friendships which endure today, The Sun on Sunday can confirm.

The discreet Royal Marines refused to say which players they are now in touch with – to ensure those friendships are not jeopardised.

But Sgt Prosser, 32, from South Wales, told how he and his comrades are continually reminding the young Lions of what they learnt on the weekend with supportive phone messages.

He said: “It’s a two-liner from the guys, saying well done, we’ve seen bucket loads tonight, they’ve got their minds on things, so for us it’s reminding and enforcing we are there for them.

“They are united under the Three Lions – same as the green beret for the Royal Marines.”

Getty Images – Getty

Harry Maguire celebrates his first goal of the World Cup and England’s the sixth so far

Cpl Ben added: “The relationships have stayed as a friendship and we’ve communicated with them just as we would with our own friends.

“Like any friends you wish them good luck, there’s no giving too much advice.

“It’s a case of reminding them of that spirit of what we went through.

“We just wish them the best of luck.

“They have been hugely appreciative.

“We went through everything they did, we stripped it back to basics – put people through adverse conditions together and you form unity and you form bonds.”

Gareth Southgate orchestrates the fans chanting after historic England World Cup win

Cpl Danny Bowcock, 26, a Manchester City fan, added: “We’re not taking any credit for it, we’ve played a little part of Gareth Southgate’s plans for Russia.

“But you see it in the goal celebrations what we wanted embedded, we’re our squad, we’ve got no fear and we’re going into Russia fearless.

“It was exciting for me, you see them playing Premier League games and Champions League games, and you see them all over social media.

Getty Images – Getty

Cpl Danny Bowcock, 26, a Manchester City fan, added: ‘We’re not taking any credit for it, we’ve played a little part of Gareth Southgate’s plans for Russia’

“But I was 100 per cent impressed how they took to it.”

The Royal Marines told how they shared war stories with the England players and heard their tales of elite competition.

They revealed how multiple times the players remarked on Gareth Southgate’s history with England was making all the difference to the revived team.

While also saying Captain Harry Kane had “bucket loads” of maturity.

Cpl Bowcock, said: “I’m not going to mention names but it was quoted by a lot of the players that the trust in Southgate is because he’s been there with England whereas previous managers haven’t had that experience.”

Sgt Prosser, added: It’s a bit of a fresh of air having a link to the real world without the hype. It’s a grounded level – maybe that’s why they like to keep in touch.”

The Royal Marines Band practices playing ‘It’s Coming Home’ in hopes England will win the World Cup match against Sweden

When quizzed if the young players were interested in war stories, Cpl Ben added: “They were interested in it and we did share stories with them, but what we didn’t want it to be a heroic war stories weekend.

“That’s our history, we shared some of our history with them, but what we really wanted to install was our values and mind set, because that’s what got us through the conflict.

“It was more about displaying that Commando ethos.”

The trio revealed how players “you would never expect” helped litter pick without invitation or instruction during the weekend, displaying their honesty.

Cpl Ben revealed: “We were going around picking up some litter, I won’t mention names, but players you wouldn’t expect were getting rubbish bags and helping us, we were doing it all together.

“There was no egos, they were helping us and we were helping them, it was humbling how similar we are, apart from wages and clothes, we’re all quite similar, and that was key to the brotherhood in the Marines we tried to get to the England team.”

FAN FRENZY

England fan crashes through bus stop roof as World Cup celebrations go wrong

‘Sorry, my eye’

Lineker holds back tears after watching Sir Bobby clip from 1990 World Cup

BRING ON CROATIA!

England vow to make history as fans party after team make World Cup semi

BEATEN IN BENIDORM

Spanish cop batters England fan carrying a CHILD on his shoulders

CAPTAIN CALLING

Kane Facetimes pregnant fiancée & Lingard surprised by mum after Sweden win

victory dance

Walker, Stones and Lingard pay tribute to class of ’90 with famous dance

Gareth Southgate has heaped praise on the Royal Marines for helping inspire new-look England’s fighting spirit so far in the campaign.

Southgate said: “We had a couple of link-ups with the Marines.

“They are an elite organisation who represent our country incredibly proudly.

“It was good for our guys to get an understanding of the fact that when they represent their country the consequences of failure are far more serious.

“It is putting it in the context of playing a football match.

“But the age of the young guys in the Marines is very similar to our team and they have kept in touch informally and formally.”

After the weekend the Royal Marines have been invited back to St Georges and England game at Wembley.

Sgt Prosser said: “It’s evident though what we are seeing now – they took to it very well.”

England fans in Samara react as England reach first World Cup semi-finals since 1990

[cfijerusalem]

April 20,2017 Update

THE WORD

"I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give into your hands the people who live in the land, and you will drive them out before you. (Exodus 23:31)

…“Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say: ‘Our bones are dried up; our hope is lost; we are cut off—by ourselves.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, thus says Adonai Elohim: ‘Behold, I will open your graves. I will bring you up out of your graves, My people. I will bring you back to the land of Israel. You will know that I am Adonai, when I have opened your graves and brought you up out of your graves, My people. I will put My Ruach in you and you will live. I will place you in your own land. (Ezekiel 37: 11-14)

POINTERS FOR PRAYER

World events appear to be getting out of control.  If we look at North Korea, Syria and of course the US governments response; along with all the activity by Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, the PLO etc. to attempt to remove the Jewish people from Israel – and specifically Jerusalem, Israel’s capital – then we must realise that these threats have increased dramatically  over the past 10 years.  There is much to ponder on and pray into here, however before that, let us seek the Lord to quieten our heart, so that the Spirit of the Lord would rest upon each of us; and that the Spirit of wisdom and understanding; the Spirit of counsel and might; the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord might enable us to truly intercede for these complex and difficult issues regarding all who oppose Israel (Isaiah 11:2).  Pray that we will be in the correct position (spiritually) to know how to intercede, and have wisdom and discernment for when to speak up and when to remain silent 

In Israel, feasts and festivals can quickly come and go.  Passover has now finished, and I’d like to say a huge thanks to all who stood in the gap for Israel and prayed against any terrorist attacks over this period. Do continue to lift the family of Hannah Bladon before the Lord, who was murdered in the Jerusalem terror attack on ‘Good Friday’.  Players of the Football Championship in England’s Derby County and Huddersfield Town bowed their heads during a minute’s silence before the start of their game in memory of Hannah Bladon.  Hannah, 20, was a keen Derby County supporter who was studying for a semester at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University. Thousands of fans from both Derby and Huddersfield stood in rare respect in the UK, for the victim of a Palestinian terror attack.

Next Monday (April 24) Israel marks its annual Holocaust Memorial Day, a solemn remembrance of the 6 million Jews who perished in Nazi-controlled Europe.  Please continue to uphold Israel through this time, and continue to pray that the people of Israel will turn to the Lord God. Isaiah 30:19 states, “He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry. When He hears it, He will answer.” Amen, may it be so.

 Pray that the nation of Israel would have a clear vision of what God has called them to be, and that the strong resolute spirit of the Jewish people would enable them to see the Lord God at work within them.  Pray that the Lord would pour out His Spirit upon Israel - especially upon the young people so that His works can be declared to future generations.

גְּבוּל (G’vul) - PRAYING ALONG THE BORDERS

In the lectures/talks I’ve been taking around many parts of the UK recently (see my last report here for details), I have been stating that last year - 2016 - was a year of great uncertainty.   With the Syrian conflict; the Brexit vote, and Donald Trump being elected president of the United States; many were wondering what would come next for international alliances, diplomacy and peace.  At the same time, the United Nations through UNESCO attempted to erase Jewish history in Jerusalem and other parts of Israel, and some of the world’s leading forces appeared closer to a world war than any time in the past few decades.  For six years now, I have been reporting on the genocide going on in the Islamic Middle East in general and Syria in particular. Islamic group ISIS have slaughtered Yazidis and Christians, and in Syria, Shia Muslims joined Alawite Muslims to exterminate Sunni Muslims –this genocide reached fever pitch towards the end of December 2016 and continued into 2017.  

Two weeks ago, I reported on the fact that up to 100 people had been killed and 400 injured in the latest Syrian 'chemical attack', although Assad refused to accept the blame.  This led to US President Trump getting involved with what he called ‘necessary retaliation for a chemical weapons attack that killed civilians and children earlier in the week.’  The US then attacked ISIS tunnels and the complex cave areas in Afghanistan by dropping a ‘Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb – the largest non-nuclear weapon in its arsenal.  The GBU-43 bomb weighed 21,600 pounds, was 30 feet long and contained 11 tons of explosives. Afghanistan's Defence Ministry said that no civilians were harmed as Afghan media reported that 82 militants had been killed.  However, ISIS denied suffering any deaths or casualties in the strike.  Enter North Korea.  Kim Jong-un stated that North Korea has “vowed to retaliate in a merciless manner as not to allow the aggressors to survive” against the US and its allies if Washington chose to attack them. Kim Jong-un’s commitment to test even more nuclear weapons has led many in the US government to call for new emergency plans in the event of a catastrophic attack.

This week, Alan Dershowitz wrote in the Gatestone Institute, “We failed to prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. As a result, our options to stop them from developing a delivery system capable of reaching our shores are severely limited.  The hard lesson from our failure to stop North Korea before they became a nuclear power is that we MUST stop Iran from ever developing or acquiring a nuclear arsenal. A nuclear Iran would be far more dangerous to American interests than a nuclear North Korea. Iran already has missiles capable of reaching numerous American allies. They are in the process of upgrading them and making them capable of delivering a nuclear payload to our shores.” The report goes on to state, “Its fundamentalist religious leaders would be willing to sacrifice millions of Iranians to destroy the "Big Satan" (United States) or the "Little Satan" (Israel). The late "moderate" leader Hashemi Rafsanjani once told an American journalist that if Iran attacked Israel with nuclear weapons, they "would kill as many as five million Jews," and that if Israel retaliated, they would kill fifteen million Iranians, which would be "a small sacrifice from among the billion Muslims in the world." He concluded that "it is not irrational to contemplate such an eventuality." Recall that the Iranian mullahs were willing to sacrifice thousands of "child-soldiers" in their futile war with Iraq. There is nothing more dangerous than a "suicide regime" armed with nuclear weapons.”

Now have a look at a map that was created in August of 2013 – nearly four years ago – and reflect on the dangers that Hamas, the PLO/Palestinian Authority, Hezbollah, Iran and Syria are to Israel’s borders.  Remember, Israel is the size of Wales, 0.1% of the Islamic Middle East.  Remember, that map and the statistics is nearly four years old.  Hamas and Hezbollah have dramatically increased their arsenal.  What of Iran?

And one nation that we shouldn’t ignore is Turkey. Is Turkey a friend of foe to Israel? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has just narrowly won a referendum to expand presidential powers, which could keep him in office until 2029.  Putting Hamas and Hezbollah to one side, many believe that after Iran's theocratic Islamist state, the greatest threat to Israel is Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey and Turkey's Islamist government. This is surprising because Turkey and Israel used to be close allies. However, the rift between the countries is directly linked to the ascendancy of Islamist rule in Turkey. This is a nation that many within Israel are keeping a close eye on.

In Hebrew, the word for border, boundary, and territory is G’vul.  I feel now is a good time to really pray and that those who have a calling to stand with Israel, would take up their positions and really intercede, and even see if people couldn’t pray in teams 24/7 along the borders of Israel.  I have no desire to be a ‘false prophet of doom’, nor do I wish to ever jump on the media’s war-glorifying bandwagon of sensational fake news. Far too many news channels today have dropped most fact-checking and critical analysis steps in order to churn out news more cheaply and quicker and as a result untrue stories are appearing in mainstream news more than ever before – especially if it relates to darkening the name of Israel. I believe we need to pray for great wisdom and discernment in these days.  However, I also believe we need to pray for secure borders around ALL of Israel, and for safety of all who live within the Land.

WHY DID FERGIE USE THE BALFOUR 100 YEAR TO HELP PALESTINIAN PROPAGANDA?

A.J. Balfour (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, British Foreign Office) stated that "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people ... it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine..."  Formally, this became known as 'The Balfour Declaration'.  In 1920, the San Remo Peace Conference gave Britain a provisional 'Mandate for Palestine' based upon the Balfour declaration. In legal terms, 'The Mandate for Palestine' was 'The Trust' and Britain was the 'Mandatory' or 'Trustee'. The primary objective of the Mandate was to grant political rights in respect to what was essentially Jewish Palestine to the Jewish people. Initially the Mandate defined "Palestine" as spanning both west and east of the Jordan. In 1922, the British Mandate was formalized in September 1922 by the Council of the League of Nations.

Essentially this body gave unanimous approval for a Jewish national homeland in historic Israel – a land the Romans renamed ‘Palestine.’ Article 25 of this Mandate enabled the Mandatory to change the terms of the Mandate in the territory east of the Jordan River. Britain, under Colonial Secretary Winston Churchill, activated this option and cut away 77% of the original mandated area for the Jews and created a new country called Trans-Jordan, later called Jordan (this was to be Arab Palestine). The East Bank was therefore given to Britain's Arab allies!  This reduced mandated area for a Jewish homeland included the Gaza strip and the Golan Heights, plus Judea and Samaria, today's 'West Bank'. According to the Mandate, the Jews could settle anywhere between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea. To date, this is the last legally binding document regarding the ‘West Bank’ and Gaza. The Mandate did not grant any national political rights to Arabs in what became the rebirth of Israel, but Article 2 did safeguard the civil and religious rights of all inhabitants of what was Palestine, irrespective of race or religion. Political rights were given however to self-determination for Arabs by the League of Nations in four other mandates (for Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Jordan).  So why is it that people who should know better, appear to know little regarding this legal document, and wilfully swallow a diet of make-belief and lies from the Palestinian Authority (PLO) leaders?

Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, as a part of her ‘charity and human rights work’, visited Bethlehem (Judea) on Tuesday, where she met with Islamic Palestinian personalities and visited different sites. The visit included a tour of the Nativity Church (Christian not Islamic) and the Old City district of Bethlehem (where the Jewish Messiah was born), in addition to what she described as “the apartheid wall.”  In an interview with the Arab Palestinian Press, the duchess said that her mission in ‘Palestine’ is to support Palestinians and the people in the area to be able to build a hospital.  The Duchess of York stated, “I come as a mother… and if I was suddenly unable to give my girls the right to play in olive trees or to go to school because someone has put a wall there I would be very upset…”   She added, “If my children can’t have a heart operation, but the people on the other side of the wall can have the heart operation, I’d be very unhappy as a mother.” To view the news clip, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbA3cBVtIU0  

Needless to say, there was no mention of her speaking out against the Palestinian Authority’s constant manipulation to teach Arab Palestinians to hate and murder Israeli Jews; there was no mention of why the wall had to be erected to try to stop all the Islamic Palestinian suicide attacks; there was no mention of the thousands of Arab children that have had successful heart transplants and other operations in Israel’s hospitals – performed by Jewish Israeli surgeons and doctors, nor the brilliant work of groups like Shevet Achim (https://www.shevet.org/il).  In a very one sided, Palestinian propaganda campaign, one has to seriously question why Sarah Ferguson chose this specific time and year to speak out against Israel, and who gave her the right to do this?

RISING FROM THE ASHES

Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) takes place this year on May 2nd.  However before that can be celebrated, a very thought provoking and sombre occasion happens in Israel.  Although the UK commemorates Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27th, next Monday (April 24) Israel marks its annual Holocaust Memorial Day, a solemn remembrance of the 6 million Jews who perished in Nazi-controlled Europe. Out of the ashes of Nazi Europe, the Jewish nation was re-birthed, however we still need to reflect just where Israel came from and what preceded the re-birth.  And so, sirens will wail throughout the Land of Israel on April 24, and public life will come to a standstill in honour of the victims of the Holocaust.  Last year when this happened, my wife and I stood on our balcony in Poriya overlooking Tiberias and the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) as the mournful, eerie sirens filled the sky (click here to view this: https://www.facebook.com/pg/CFIUK/videos/?ref=page_internal).

When I first got involved with Christian Friends of Israel (some 30 years ago), there was 250,000 Holocaust survivors living in Israel.  Today, however this number is significantly less.  One thing that is certain however, these precious people are now very old and in 10 or 20 years’ time, no eye witnesses to that horrific chapter in human history will be left.  This is why we must remember this time.  My eyes were opened to the horrors of the Holocaust through Anne Frank.  As a young boy, I watched a film about Anne Frank.  Following this, and after reading her diary over and over I could not get her story out of my mind… indeed, her short life is engraved in my soul - and so I guess God would end up using me somehow to help those who survived the Holocaust.  Spending many years writing songs and poems around this theme birthed my book called ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ - a gathering of written works originally set to music, which try to reflect something of the horror of the Holocaust and beyond.  To purchase your own copy of ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ click here:  http://www.cfi.org.uk/shop.php?product=1104. In an age when Israel’s enemies are denying the Holocaust took place for political gain, we need to keep the candle burning, and challenge the youth regarding this issue.   Click here if you would like to help us support our work with Holocaust survivors or if outside the UK, click here.

The official events commemorating the Shoah or Holocaust – the systematic slaughter of the Jews in Europe in the course of the Second World War – will begin at the Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Memorial Centre in Jerusalem).  Then, as it does every year on the 27th/28th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, Israel will come to a standstill at 10 AM on the Monday morning as air raid sirens blare across the country commemorating the massacre of six million Jews in the Nazi Holocaust. 

A day of teaching & prayer – CFI Conference   Finally, I would like to let you know that CFI UK are putting on a teaching & prayer conference in the Scottish Borders on Saturday May 6, 2017 (10 am – 4 pm). The day conference, entitled ‘Israel - God’s Promised Land’ will be held at Elim Community Church, Fairhurst Drive, Hawick, TD9 8HU, Scottish Borders.  The speakers are Julia Soakell (CFI UK Liaison Support/prayer) and Julie Archer (CFI North East England Regional Link).  The day is being organised and hosted by our Scottish Borders Regional Link, Philip Aitchison.  Contact details are philipaitchison@gmail.com (07443 900244).  

Compiled by David Soakell E-mail david@cfi.org.uk Website: www.cfi.org.uk