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There’s every imaginable excuse for not wanting to play soccer for Palestine.

Things like the home of one of your coaches being blown to smithereens. Like two members of the U-20 national squad being killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Gaza. Like visa chaos whenever you travel. Like some of your team members being stopped at a border and not coming back. Like struggling to make even the slightest mark on the international scene.

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None of that has stopped Ottawa Fury defender Omar Jarun, who was born in Kuwait of a Palestinian father and American mother and bought up in the United States.

In 2007, Palestine went on a search for eligible players. Jarun put his hand up and has been at it ever since.

You might think that a six-foot-five blond with an American accent might not be welcome in the dressing room. Far from it.

“They know I’m Palestinian at heart; I don’t have to live in the West Bank to know I am doing the right things for our people and the country,” he says. “I’m accepted as a brother and I look at myself as being one of them.”