The Martyrs' and Orphans Football Academy in Gaza challenges the Israeli aggression and siege

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Under the siege imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip about 12 years ago, and the successive aggression that caused the rising number of martyrs, football academies were established to teach the children of martyrs and orphans the skills of the round witch, support them psychologically and entertain them.

The General Supervisor of the Academy for the Sons of Martyrs and Orphans in the Central Gaza Strip, Dr. Nabil Hamto told Al Jazeera Net that the mission of the Academy is to create a recreational outlet for this segment, which is the most suffering from the lack of recreational facilities and sports activities since the imposition of the siege in June 2007, especially in The increasing number of martyrs continued as a result of repeated Israeli raids and aggression against the Strip.

Hamtou added that the project's leaders, headed by the director of the academy Iyad Abu Zayed, do not receive any compensation from the children of martyrs and orphans, but everybody, including the mayors, is mastered in how to ease them because they lost their parents and delighted them by teaching them the art and skills of football. They adore and develop their standard.

He stressed that the activity of the Academy continues throughout the year, even under the brutal Israeli bombardment, and that the demand is increasing, especially during the summer period, where the number of five thousand children, and the number is reduced by half during the study period.

He pointed out that the age of children participating in the Academy between 5 and 15 years, which led to those who expand the idea to reach the number of branches of the Academy to 50 branches, the most recent branch in the center of the sector he oversees.

Hamtou explained that the Academy opens its doors to children at the rate of three exercises per week, and the duration of the training unit is 120 minutes under the supervision of a group of the most qualified technicians of the former and current players in the sector who are racing to contribute to this noble message.

The mayor of Zawaida, Dr. Ayman Abu Swireh - who adopted the opening of the latest branches of the Academy - for the island Net that the Gaza Strip needs these sports and recreational activities due to the high number of children, which amounts to 25% of the population.

He pointed out that the branches of the Academy has reached almost all places in the sector, where spread in the five governorates - including remote and marginalized places - so as to accommodate the largest possible number of martyrs and orphans.

Abu Swireh stressed that he puts all the possibilities of the municipality in the service of the Academy, to contribute to the mission and serve the Palestinian sport and football in particular, through the refinement of football talents and presented to the team and national teams.

He called on charities and individuals to help and expand the activities and programs of the Academy, to meet the sports needs of the children of martyrs and orphans.

The child Mohammed Hossam Abu Zayed (12 years), one of the sons of the martyrs, he joined the Academy just two months ago, in order to fulfill his father's dream of becoming a famous player like Barcelona star Lionel Messi, stressing that he benefited a lot not only to acquire new skills in football, It is also educational and humane, and the academic administration urges them to strive for academic excellence as well.