One-armed goalkeeper defying odds to star on Palestine's pitches

One-armed goalkeeper Oday Nasser is known across the West Bank as one of the local soccer league's finest net minders.

The 26-year-old, who was born without his right arm, plays for the Deir Sharaf club from the city of Nablus.

Despite his disability, he has amassed dozens of medals and has earned the respect and admiration of rivals and teammates, all of whom are able-bodied.

"It was not easy to earn selection for this position, especially since a goalkeeper has to do everything to stop the ball from hitting the net," Nasser told Xinhua as he adeptly pulled on his jersey before the start of a training session.

"Initially, I was sad when I saw the looks of people, including my relatives, who felt pity for me and thought I couldn't play soccer because of my disability," Nasser recalled.

However, those looks of pity soon disappeared as Nasser forged ahead with his dream of playing full-time.

Nasser's goalkeeping talent was first discovered at school by a teacher who recognized that the then 10-year-old had an uncanny ability to guard his net.

Nasser played his first official match in the West Bank in 2015.Since then, he has participated in 22 leagues at the level of the Palestinian governorates.

As one of the best goalkeepers in the West Bank, Nasser has won three cups and dozens of medals.

In order to develop his soccer skills, Nasser trains for nearly five hours a day, garnering applause from coaches for his endurance and creativity in keeping the ball from crossing the goal line.

"Losing a part of your body does not mean losing your passion for life or becoming a burden on your family or society," Nasser said.

"When life takes something important from us, it also gives us strength somewhere else," he said.

Nasser expressed his regret over Palestinian society's attitude toward people with disabilities, who are often treated as second-class citizens.

According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, individuals with disabilities in Palestine constitute 2.1 percent of the total population.

Nasser's performances were praised by his coach Ahmed Antary, who said that "he is distinguished by his high ability to jump in the air and catch the ball, as well as his high level of flexibility".

"Nasser has managed to establish himself as a key player for our team in record time since joining the club," Antary added.

"He has without doubt proved himself and earned the job as the first-choice goalkeeper of the team, and now we cannot do without him in any way."

When there are no matches, Nasser works as a construction worker to make ends meet.

"Playing soccer was the key for me to convince people that I can work and make money," he said with a smile.

"I have the determination to live my life normally without being dependent on anyone," he insisted, adding that he is working on sharing his experiences with disabled people to encourage them to tap into their potential and pursue their dreams.

Moreover, Nasser has expressed hope of one day representing the Palestinian national team in international matches.

Xinhua