West Bank Premier League
Encyclopedia
West Bank Premier League is one of the two top divisions of the Palestinian Football Federation
. The other is the Gaza Strip League
. Palestinian clubs have a rich history stretching back to the early 1930s but most teams folded due to the political turmoil that ensued. that e League football has existed in the West Bank since 1977 but due to the difficulties associated with the Israeli occupation
of the West Bank
and internal feuding within the Palestinian Football Federation
only seven seasons have been played in their entirety. Over the years, the format of the League has taken many different shapes. The league has been uninterrupted since 2008. The 2010-11 Season marked the creation of the first professional league in the territories and saw high profile signings for many clubs. Most notably Fadi Lafi
(Hilal Al-Quds), Hernan Madrid
(Wadi Al-Nes), and many Arab-Israelis who played for teams in the second and third tier of Israeli football.
The original format of the WBPL consisted of 12 teams playing each other twice over 22 matchdays, the bottom two clubs are relegated to the second division and the team with the most points are crowned champions. Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari
won the inaugural season beating out Hilal Al-Quds on goal differential.
The 2011-12 will include only 10 teams but the PFA have announced that four teams will be promoted from the First Division returning the league to its traditional 12-team format. The PFA also altered the rules on player eligibility banning the use of foreign players but letting teams have an unlimited amount of Palestinian citizens of Israel in their squads.
Palestinian Football Federation
The Palestinian Football Association is the governing body for football in the Palestinian Authority, and for the Palestine national football team. It was also the original name for what is now the Israel Football Association....
. The other is the Gaza Strip League
Gaza Strip League
Gaza Strip League is one of the two top divisions of the Palestinian Football Federation in the territories governed by the Palestinian Authority.-Champions:Champions so far are:*1984/85: Al-Ahli Gaza*1985/86: Khadamat Al-Shatea...
. Palestinian clubs have a rich history stretching back to the early 1930s but most teams folded due to the political turmoil that ensued. that e League football has existed in the West Bank since 1977 but due to the difficulties associated with the Israeli occupation
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
of the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
and internal feuding within the Palestinian Football Federation
Palestinian Football Federation
The Palestinian Football Association is the governing body for football in the Palestinian Authority, and for the Palestine national football team. It was also the original name for what is now the Israel Football Association....
only seven seasons have been played in their entirety. Over the years, the format of the League has taken many different shapes. The league has been uninterrupted since 2008. The 2010-11 Season marked the creation of the first professional league in the territories and saw high profile signings for many clubs. Most notably Fadi Lafi
Fadi Lafi
Fadi Lafi Abu Lattifa is a Palestinian footballer, who is a forward for Hilal Al-Quds.- External links :*[]*[]...
(Hilal Al-Quds), Hernan Madrid
Hernán Madrid
Hernán Madrid is a naturalized Palestinian football defender, who plays for Wadi Al-Nes.-External links:...
(Wadi Al-Nes), and many Arab-Israelis who played for teams in the second and third tier of Israeli football.
The original format of the WBPL consisted of 12 teams playing each other twice over 22 matchdays, the bottom two clubs are relegated to the second division and the team with the most points are crowned champions. Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari
Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari
Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari is a Palestinian football team, that plays in the West Bank Premier League.-Current squad:-Performance in International competitions:*AFC President's Cup: 1 appearance-External links:*...
won the inaugural season beating out Hilal Al-Quds on goal differential.
The 2011-12 will include only 10 teams but the PFA have announced that four teams will be promoted from the First Division returning the league to its traditional 12-team format. The PFA also altered the rules on player eligibility banning the use of foreign players but letting teams have an unlimited amount of Palestinian citizens of Israel in their squads.
Before Professionalization
- In 1977, Silwan won a five-team league on 28 points ahead of Al-Arabi Beit Safafa, YMCA, Al-Bireh Group, and Shabab Al-Khaleel
- In 1982, Shabab Al-KhaleelShabab Al-KhaleelShabab Al-Khaleel is a Palestinian football team from the city of Hebron that plays in the West Bank Premier League....
won a 24-team league on 81 points five points ahead of closest challengers YMCA - In 1984, Merkaz Tulkarem won a 12-team league on 60 points one point ahead of closest challengers Hateen
- In 1985-85, Shabab Al-KhaleelShabab Al-KhaleelShabab Al-Khaleel is a Palestinian football team from the city of Hebron that plays in the West Bank Premier League....
won their second league title, the league once again featured 12 teams. Shabab Al-Khaleel finished on 60 points, six ahead of Thaqafi Tulkarem - In 1997, Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ariMarkaz Shabab Al-Am'ariMarkaz Shabab Al-Am'ari is a Palestinian football team, that plays in the West Bank Premier League.-Current squad:-Performance in International competitions:*AFC President's Cup: 1 appearance-External links:*...
won their first league title on 64 points, the league featured 16 teams, Thaqafi Tulkarem finished as runner-up on 53 points - In 2008/09, Tarji Wadi Al-Nes won a 22-team league that would determine the members of the First and Second Division. They collected 49 points from 21 games.
- In 2009/10 Jabal Al-Mukaber won a 12-team league, the last before the PFA instituted a professional set-up. They collected 49 points from 22 games, 7 more than their closest challengers Hilal Al-Quds
Clubs 2011/12
| Club | Coach | Nationality | City | Top Scorer (2010/11) | Captain | 2010-2011 season | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Bireh Institute |  |
Al-Bireh Al-Bireh al-Bireh or el-Bira is a Palestinian city adjacent to Ramallah in the central West Bank, north of Jerusalem. It is situated on the central ridge running through the West Bank and is above sea level, covering an area of... , Ramallah Ramallah Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority... |
Mohammed Nael 7 goals | Mustafa Abu Kwek | 8th | ||
| Hilal Al-Quds | Jamal Mahmoud | |
Jerusalem | Murad Alyan Murad Alyan Murad Alyan is a Palestinian professional football player currently playing for Hilal Al-Quds of the West Bank Premier League.-Career:... 20 goals |
Fadi Lafi Fadi Lafi Fadi Lafi Abu Lattifa is a Palestinian footballer, who is a forward for Hilal Al-Quds.- External links :*[]*[]... |
2nd | 2011/12 Supercup Winners, 2011 Palestine Cup Winners |
| Jabal Al-Mukaber | Ayoub Jabar | |
Mount Scopus Mount Scopus Mount Scopus , جبل المشهد , جبل الصوانة) is a mountain in northeast Jerusalem. In the wake of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Mount Scopus became a UN protected Jewish exclave within Jordanian-occupied territory until the Six-Day War in 1967... , Jerusalem |
Ismail Amour Ismail Amour Ismail Amour is a Palestinian professional football player currently playing for Al-Am'ary of the West Bank Premier League and the Palestinian national football team. He is known for his blistering pace and trickery.- National Team Goals :-External links:... 8 goals |
Ra'fit Eyad | 7th | |
| Markaz Balata | |
Nablus Nablus Nablus is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank, approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Located in a strategic position between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a Palestinian commercial and cultural center.Founded by the... |
Abdelhamid Abuhabib Abdelhamid Abuhabib Abdelhamid Abuhabib is a Palestinian Footballer currently playing for Nablus-based Balata of the WBPL.-Early years:... 12 goals |
4th | |||
| Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari is a Palestinian football team, that plays in the West Bank Premier League.-Current squad:-Performance in International competitions:*AFC President's Cup: 1 appearance-External links:*... |
|
Ramallah Ramallah Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority... |
Eyad Abugharqud Eyad Abugharqud Eyad Abugharqud is a Palestinian professional football player currently playing for Hebron-based Shabab Al-Khaleel of the West Bank Premier League. He was the league's joint-top leading scorer in 2010/11 with Al-Am'ary scoring an impressive 20 goals in 22 league games. He received his first... 20 goals |
Champions | 2012 AFC President's Cup 2012 AFC President's Cup The 2012 AFC President's Cup will be the eighth edition of the AFC President's Cup. It is a football competition for "emerging countries" by the Asian Football Confederation... |
||
| Merkaz Tulkarem | |
Tulkarem | Fadi Salím 8 goals | 10th | |||
| Shabab Al-Khaleel Shabab Al-Khaleel Shabab Al-Khaleel is a Palestinian football team from the city of Hebron that plays in the West Bank Premier League.... |
Samer Eissa | |
Hebron Hebron Hebron , is located in the southern West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judean Mountains, it lies 930 meters above sea level. It is the largest city in the West Bank and home to around 165,000 Palestinians, and over 500 Jewish settlers concentrated in and around the old quarter... |
Shadi Farhan 7 goals | Fahed Attal Fahed Attal Fahed Attal is a Palestinian professional football player currently playing for Shabab Al-Khaleel of the West Bank Premier League.-Move to Jordanian Premier League:... |
6th | |
| Shabab Al-Dhahrieh | |
Al-Dhahrieh | Atef Abu Bilal 14 | 3rd | |||
| Thaqafi Tulkarem | Miha | |
Tulkarem | Rida Al-Da'ma 5 goals | Osama Sabah | 9th | |
| Tarji Wadi Al-Nes | Firas Abu Radwan | |
Wadi Al-Nes | Ashraf Nu'man 12 goals | 5th | ||