Soccer / 'I wouldn't change a thing'

Abbas Suan is going through a tough time. The Bnei Sakhnin captain wants to retire, but coach Marco Balbul is putting immense pressure on the midfielder to stick it out for one more season.

Suan may still be wavering, but the former national team member talks like someone who is painfully realistic about his career. "I underwent difficult surgery and missed four and a half months," Suan said. "I'm 34 years old, and my body is not what it once was."

	Abbas Suan
	Photo by: Sharon Bukov

Are you concerned by the fact that there is no one to replace you as the symbol of the Arab community?

"There is a new generation of talented players, any of whom could eventually become the best in Israel. The question of leadership, of being a symbol, is another matter. Zahi Armali and (Rifaat ) Jimmy Turk were great players, but like Walid Badir, they played for major teams, not Arab ones, so it was hard for them to take up the fight and speak freely. I am more appreciated, because I'm identified with Bnei Sakhnin. In contrast to other players, I fought hard to stay at Sakhnin and to be an emissary of the community."

And yet, you didn't manage to break down the barriers and play for Beitar Jerusalem.

"I fought to play on Beitar, in order to reduce hatred between Jews and Arabs. The contract was finalized; we sat with Arcadi Gaydamak in Mazen Genaim's home and shook hands. I knew some Arabs would call me a traitor and Beitar fans wouldn't cheer for me, and might even try to kill me, but I did it to bring folks together. But in the end, the people at Beitar - from Moshe Dadas to Itzik Kornfein - weren't brave enough. The fans run things, and everyone is afraid of them. Even the great Gaydamak got cold feet the moment the fans started going wild."

Suan agreed that being a symbol means taking a lot of racist abuse.

"It's true, unfortunately," he said. "There's anti-Semitism against Israel in this world. Racism led to the Holocaust, but instead of people learning from that, they continue to hate. And Beitar's leaders have a lot to learn from [Maccabi Haifa owner] Yaakov Shahar. He's the bravest and most brilliant figure in Israeli soccer. I'm sure if he were Beitar's owner, there would be at least one Arab player on the team."

Did you ever feel discriminated against during your career?

"I never felt discriminated against in anything that had to do with soccer. I didn't let anyone do it to me. Everywhere I went, I felt not merely at home, but like the boss. I have a lot of Jewish friends and they are like brothers to me. But I do feel discriminated against when it comes to infrastructure and development in the Arab sector. When my children have a sports lesson in a courtyard without a pitch, that's discrimination. It makes my blood boil. It's unacceptable that in a city like Sakhnin, there is not one tennis or basketball court worthy of the name."

If you were a Jewish player, would you have gone further?

"If I had gone to Maccabi Haifa as a kid, I would have had a more fabulous career, and I would have earned a lot more money. Every Arab who left the place where they were born and played for a big club had a fabulous career. But if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. I pursued my career to represent the community and to bring the two peoples closer together. I paid a great personal price, but I'm satisfied."

Was being called up to the national team one of the greatest achievements of your career?

"No doubt. It was an amazing experience. I learned a ton. How to handle yourself before games, how to prepare, how to cope with pressure, how to eat healthily and how important friendlies are. I am grateful to Avram Grant for that."

What next?

"Bnei Sakhnin has already appointed me director of the club's youth division. I have a coaching certificate and plan to go to a pro course. I'm a dreamer. When I was a boy, I dreamed of scoring for Bnei Sakhnin, and then in the first division - and suddenly, there I was, playing in the Premier League. I joined the national squad and scored in an official game. I won a State Cup. I did the maximum for someone playing with a small club. Now I dream of coaching in the Premier League and even beyond."

It won't be simple, considering that no Arab has managed to coach a non-Arab team in the Premier League.

"It pains me that there are no Arab coaches in the Premier League. Just as they don't appoint Israelis to coach the national team, League teams don't hire Arab coaches. The coaches also have a role in this. They didn't try to get ahead, so their careers get stuck in one place. You need to believe and to strive for more."