More than a decade ago, crowds would chant “Saeb Jundiya” whenever he appeared on the pitch wearing the Palestinian national team captain’s armband. He confidently directed his teammates, competed against continental teams, and stood in front of the cameras with the smile of a captain who knows the value of his jersey.
Today, there are no cameras or crowds, just a long line of people waiting their turn to fill up gallons of drinking water. Between the past and the present, Jundiya’s life encapsulates the story of Gaza, besieged by Israel’s genocide and deprived of the basic necessities of life.
Saeb Jundiya: an eventful sporting career
Saeb Jundiya is not just a soccer player, but a symbol of Palestinian sport. He played for the Palestinian national team for many years and was one of its stalwart defenders. He led the team in official matches against major Asian teams and participated in international football forums, presenting a proud image of his country.
After his retirement, he moved into coaching, supervising local Palestinian clubs and continuing his mission to serve football despite the difficult circumstances.
From the pitch to water queues
But war and siege have turned the equation upside down. In Gaza, football is no longer a source of income or even a stable activity. With the destruction of infrastructure and the suspension of sporting activities, Saeb Jundiya found himself forced to look for alternative sources of income to feed his children.
Today, he spends hours of his day providing drinking water, moving between the few points that are still operating. It is a scene that sums up how a star of the pitch can become a citizen fighting for survival.
Sports comparison: a gap between two worlds
Around the world, football legends live a life of luxury after retirement, such as Zinedine Zidane, who spends his days between luxury villas and green fields, or Pep Guardiola, who earns millions coaching major clubs.
Saeb Jundiya, former captain of his country’s national team, struggles to provide for his family’s basic needs. The difference is not in talent or dedication, but in geographical luck, a stable environment, and a sports infrastructure that guarantees athletes a decent life after retirement.
An athlete in Gaza versus an athlete in the world
A soccer coach in Europe may spend his day following his team’s training sessions, visiting sports centers, or planning for an upcoming match, while a Palestinian coach in Gaza plans how to obtain water, cooking gas, or enough food for his family for the coming days.
Sport here is not a profession, but a dream threatened with extinction, and with every war, athletes are brought back to square one, trapped between the walls of harsh reality.
Saeb Jundiya: a message beyond sports
The story of Saeb Jundiya is not just the tale of a player who lost the spotlight of the stadium, but a mirror reflecting the reality of Gaza with all its contradictions: passion and love for life, but under a siege that stifles ambition.
A football legend like Jundiya has the right to continue his life on the pitch, not in water queues, and the world has a duty to see his story as a call to support Palestinian athletes and protect their legacy.
In the end, Saeb Jundiya remains a leader, even if his field today is different. He is leading the battle for survival in Gaza, just as he once led the Palestinian national team in the most difficult matches.
Featured image supplied
