The 17th edition of the AFC Asian Cup which is hosted by The United Arab Emirates will kick off today 5th of January and Finals will be played on 1st of February 2019. The highlight of the tournament will be that of Syria and Palestine which will be played on Sunday 6th of Januaey.
After narrowly missing out on the World Cup finals in Russia last year, Syria takes the field this weekend for their first international football tournament in eight years of war, but not all fans are happy.
The Qasioun Eagles will be playing for fans divided by war, the government-held territory was thrilled by their qualification, but angered fans in rebel areas who accuse the national team of playing for a regime they detest.
According to AFP, national team member Muayyad Ajaan said he was determined this time would be different.
"The pressures and the pains of war have had a positive impact on our spirits. We're determined to make the Syrian people happy," "Our qualification is a victory for everyone." The team's participation in the Asian Cup has particular significance as Syria remains banned from hosting international fixtures. Maria Barud, 29, who works at a clothes store in Damascus, said she and others were in desperate need of some joy after grueling years of war.
"I never thought a day would come when I remembered the name of a football player, but I've remembered all the names of players in the Syrian team," she said. "I follow what matches are when, and even bought the team shirt." - 'Doesn't represent me' -
After years of devastating conflict that has killed 360,000 people and displaced millions, the regime today is back in control of two-thirds of the country. "I no longer see it as just a rough boys' game. It's become a sensitive national topic," Barud said. "We dance when the team wins, and cry when it loses."
Syria reached an advanced stage in qualifications for the 2018 World Cup, only to be denied at the last hurdle with a defeat to Australia. Syria will face the Socceroos again in the group stage of the Asian Cup, as well as vying with Palestine and Jordan for a place in the knock-out phase.
In late December, the national squad's last training session in Damascus drew thousands of fans. In the stands, supporters held up their mobile phones to film or snap pictures of the players, under posters of President Bashar al-Assad and his father Hafez. But not all Syrians are so enthusiastic. In areas that escape regime control, football fans are damning of a team they say only represents the government.
"The team doesn't represent me in any way whatsoever," said Rami Mohammed, a resident of the northern rebel-held town of Azaz.
"How am I supposed to cheer on players who support a murderer?" the 23-year-old asked.
After a series of Russia-backed regime victories around the country, many Syrians have fled their homes to territory still under opposition control in the north of the country. - 'Huge responsibility' - Yunes Shasho, who also lives in Azaz, says he could not support the national team.
There are "players still in regime jails, while their colleagues play under the picture of Bashar al-Assad," said the 31-year-old. Throughout the conflict, several players have distanced themselves from the team -- but some have since returned.
Assad met national players in October after the World Cup qualifiers, posing for photographs with them and signing their red-and-white team shirts. The squad included Firas al-Khatib, who had previously voiced support for the rebellion, although he will be absent from the Asian Cup due to an injury. Syria's team, for now, will focus on surviving as long as possible in the newly expanded Asian Cup, which includes 24 instead of 16 teams this year.
The Qasioun Eagles, named after a mount overlooking Damascus, will face Palestine in their first game on Sunday. Goalkeeper Ibrahim Alma said he and his teammates were determined to do well.
"People need to come together" despite the war, he said. Mohammed Barfi, a computer shop employee in Damascus, said he was excited.
"This team is the best Syria has produced because it is born of the crisis and its sufferings," he said, referring to the war.
"For the players, the match will not just be a game," said the 24-year-old.
"They carry a huge responsibility... the responsibility of making the people happy."
