Players with palestinian origin who represented Palestina Sport Club or Club Deportivo Palestino

In this list its described the sport men or players with palestinian origin who are considered the most important, but always we are open to suggestions to include other players, through the contact page.

Elias Deik (1920-1929)

Co-Founder of Club Deportivo Palestino football branch in 1920, participating on the youth division tournament from the Central Association of Santiago, participating since 1921 and 1923, then for focusing their energies on the tennis practice, sport which, based on constancy and discipline, and confronting discrimination problems, reach the Championship of Chile. With his brother Salvador, both left ‘Palestina Sport Club’ in that time for join the International Sport Club located on Bellavista street, where they can offer them better infrastructure and better bond.

Later, since 50s decade, he came back to Club Deportivo Palestino as director and for helping on the professionalization process of the team.

Salvador Deik (1924-1929)

Tennis player, known as the ‘little brother of Elias Deik’ until 1936, when he defeated his brother Elias on the Championship of Chile final match of that year. He always stood out for having a ‘fighter way of playing’, which offers spectacle and never giving up for loosing a ball, even being a veteran in his last years and having problems of excessive weight. The 22 of January of 1952, after being defeated by Luis Ayala, he announced the definitive retirement of the competitions.s.

Fuad Yunis (1924-1950?)

Player who played regularly in the universitarian tournaments representing University of Chile. it is described that ‘his game is first of all varied and serene, and cuts or hits with similar skill. Its high point is the backhand. Contemporary to the brothers Elias and Salvador Deik, but not so succesfully like them. He kept belonged to Palestine Sport Club throughout the years 30s and 40s, playing internal tournaments and between other clubs.

Wilfrido Bendeck (1946-1951?)

Star roller hockey player who played for Club Deportivo Palestino. In the late 1940s, the development of roller hockey was started as an experimental sport, and this player was an immovable piece of the team.

He was described by the Revista Estadio in this way:

‘Deportivo Palestino has in his team the best player of the tournament, Wilfredo Bendeck, but when he turns his game around the skill of this man loses all their effectiveness under some tactics’.

Source: ‘Ha crecido el Hockey’
Revista Estadio Nº401, 1951-01-20

Eduardo ‘Lalo’ Zaror (1948-1954)

Left-footed striker of the group of players who participated on the professionalization process of Club Deportivo Palestino, and that began to play friendly matches, mostly outside Santiago. With a privileged physique, his most outstanding qualities were a powerful shot of medium distance and his speed, this last product of having previously practiced athletics. At the same time that played in Palestino, in 1950 also it did in the youth divisions of Universidad Catolica. There were even days when he played games for both teams. At that time, Club Deportivo Palestino was an amateur team, so they did not play in the same division. Also notable was the fact that he was one of the few players of Palestinian origin who, because of his quality of play, ‘survived’ to the professionalization of the team, staying on the same team with the stars players of that time.

Carlos Hasbun Hasbun (1948-1954)

Right back player who played on the preparation matches inside the professionalization process of the team. Just he played 4 matches in 1952, when Club Deportivo Palestino made their debut on the born chilean second division, due to in that period there wasnt subtitutions on the game. He played mostly on the substitution tournaments. He got retired in 1954 after a strong injury on his knee.

Carmelo Tala (1951-1952)

Striker on the ‘Tournament of the Six’ (Campeonato de los Seis) in 1951 and also on the second division tournament in 1952., the same year of Club Deportivo Palestino professional debut.

Ismael Islami (1950-1952)

Central back who played on the team professionalization process, and then in the ‘Tournament of the Six’ (Campeonato de los Seis) in 1951 and also he was a titular player on the chilean second division tournament of 1952.

José ‘Pepe’ Zacarías (1948-1951)

Goalkeeper who although had already made debut in 1948 by Universidad de Chile in a dream debut, played by Palestine of the amateur period in his spare-time, being substitute player of his brother Victor. Also he played by Club Deportivo Palestino in 1951 on the Tournament of the Six.

Victor ‘Tito’ Zacarías (1948-1950, 1955)

Goalkeeper, older brother of José Zacarias. He played in the amateur era of Palestine until Arab Olimpic Games of Osorno in 1950, then he played professionally for Green Cross and Santiago Morning, and later transferred to the great team of Club Deportivo Palestino in 1955. When José Donoso was injured in a match against Colo Colo, José had the opportunity to enter into play the next match against Green Cross with excellent results, and he was lucky to finish champion with the team that same year.

This is confirmed by Estadio magazine after replacing José Donoso and he guarantee the championship:

“Víctor Zacarías occupied the goal when the tournament was still not resolved, which is why his responsibility was too onerous, but he got out of trouble and must be remembered what he staying under the goal, the team one the necessary points to reach the championship.”

But when the championship was secure, the team suffered an incredible relaxation that ruined the goalkeeper’s performance:

“And Club Deportivo Palestino? Also its curious the case of the champion team. formidable strikers, but the defense is weak since Donoso was injured. Twenty goals in four matches was made to Club Deportivo Palestino in their defeats ones on the last part of the championship. Five Green Cross and Universidad de Chile, and six Colo Colo, with an exact average of five goals per game. In Chile, a team finished its performance with an average of five goals against by match and nevertheless was champion by nine points of advantage. Although perhaps this last one explains just how easy it was to beat to Zacarías after Palestino was champion.”

Sources:
‘El Factor Humano’, Revista Estadio Nº657, 1955-12-16
‘De tablón a tablón’, Revista Estadio Nº659, 1955-12-30

José ‘Tito’ Sabaj (1953-1954)

Veteran goalkeeper came from Santiago Morning. After completing a long career at Universidad de Chile, Colo Colo and Green Cross, he arrived to Palestino, sharing the position with José Donoso, and then transferred to Santiago Wanderers in 1955.

Miguel Nasur (1953-1960)

Miguel Nasur began his career when at 14 or 15 years was to prove to Club Deportivo Palestino in the amateur period, who was one of the few players who remained part of the professional squad as substitute goalkeeper, almost always being substitute goalkeeper of José Donoso.

When he debuted in 1956, Estadio Magazine highlighted him it this way:

“On the sixth date of the championship, playing against Colo Colo, Jose Donoso was injured … No one knew the substitute goalkeeper of the champion team … Donoso had being a regularity of 100%, so much that the people had forget the need to have another goalkeeper with some good level, but Miguel Nazur appeared on the seventh, playing against Green Cross, who came in at a bad moment for him, the champion (from 1955) crashing down, Almeyda, and later others.

It was not an encouraging prospect for a novice goalkeeper to enter, especially a team which didnt have the greatest satisfactions of football. Also, the first impression was not favorable. The height, the ‘u-19 player face’ of the substitute goalkeeper, the stockings down at last, a series of details made that incoming player Nazur did not inspire confidence. Some people from the bleachers made jokes about him, saying he played ‘because he was related to a team director and had an Arab surname’ … ”

But after every game, that young goalkeeper was doing his job. It was true amongst so much good things, he received stupid goals. Finally it was leaving a better balance for the young goalkeeper: they say that Donoso is already training, that he could even do it. To enter the next date to the superior team, but the technical direction of the team estimates that the substitute goalkeeper is responding and that there are not enough arguments to take away, for the moment, the position. He is agile, extremely agile, he has good reactions, he is reckless, he is well, not Tarzan? … Okay, but there are many examples of excellent archers who were neither taller nor taller than Nazur. The fact is that in Palestine there is tranquility on this side and that Nazur has been eliminating the reservations with which he was shown. ”

And then in 1957, already as a figure known:

“(Miguel Nasur) can be seen under the goal and his complexion looks small . His face, age, temperament give the goalkeeper of Club Deportivo Palestino a noticeable appearance of teenager”.

“A doubly interesting case, because it is a boy who has had to save a lot of pitfalls and that comes from youth divisions of the team … Fortunately, we are not mistaken. Every round league his performance was improved and day by day the people can notice that growing conviction which give the practice and experience. As well as (Constantino) Mohor, Miguel Nazur also comes from the youth division of Club Deportivo Palestino. His lastname being identified with the coat which he dress. Its ‘pure’ product, a typical case of self-worth.”

“… He catch a lot of possible goals. He’s not lacking about will or agility. He’s launched into the air with all its soul. Just like when it comes to an opponent. Very elastic and very determined. Just he need a to be a little bit taller”

“… he has a sense of football and he knows how to get out of the goal. On the centre shots, he looks and leaves the goal, without hesitating. He is brave and he jumps, but sometimes he is short for that…

However, it is clear that he catch possible goals, and in a good way. In this sequence of matches at night, Club Deportivo Palestino has been an attraction. By affirming the team defense, the picture regained solidity and power. It is a complete picture. Miguel Nazur has influenced in it, revealing himself as a useful and honest goalkeeper. And demonstrating, by the way, that the solutions of Club Deportivo Palestino can be extracted from the own youth divisions, and already needed in time to alleviate its powerful alignment.

Years later, in 1969 already being a recognized entrepreneur, entered the boars of directors of Club Deportivo Palestino, of which it became a successful president between 1977 and 1978, period in which the equipment crowned champion of the Chilean professional soccer.

Sources:
‘Aspectos’, Revista Estadio N°701, 1956-10-19
‘Diez centimetros más’, Revista Estadio N°757, 1957-10-29

Constantino Mohor (1954-1961)

Midfielder came from the youth divisions of Club Deportivo Palestino. He played the subtitute players tournament the same year 1955 when the team reached the Championship.

He was born on September 17, 1934 (turned 82), in Los Sauces, “a small town between Angol and Traiguén, in the Ninth Region (of Chile)”. His height was 1.70 meters, weighed 68 kilos, never gave a pass to the rival and he give a strong shot to the ball. He studied in the boarding school of the Normal-School of Victoria: “I reached the first year when José Santos Arias and Caupolicán Peña were in fifth year. The three of us got the career of elementary teachers. ”

Club Deportivo Palestino discovered him on a tour to the south of Chile, and he was invited to a test in Santiago in 1954: “There were nine argentinian players: Osvaldo Pérez, Roberto Coll, Juan Manuel López, Julio Baldovino, Pablo Dupuy, Raúl Walter, Alberto Pogliani, Luis Mendez and ‘Chauchón’ Abdón Casales. There could only be four playing on court. The coach was the Yugoslav Milan Stefanovic. Club Deportivo Palestino made the Lap of Honour in 1955, but I did not play any official match. Yes for the subtitutes team, where we were also champions.”

At the beginning of 1956, Mohor took over the jersey 6 in the Palestine midfield. In 1958 he played in the chilean young national team that prepared Fernando Riera and that faced two matches against First Vienna of Austria. He traveled to the South American tournament of Buenos Aires in 1959. In August 1960, Mohor kicked a free kick that hit the referee Carlos Robles, it was deflected and beated the goalkeeper Raúl Coloma of Ferrobadminton: “It was in Santa Laura (Stadium), the referee is part of the court and he had to validate the goal.”

Source:
‘Los recuerdos del Negro Mohor’, La Tercera, 2017-01-02
http://www.latercera.com/noticia/los-recuerdos-del-negro-mohor/

Arturo Salah (1981-1982)

Immensely better known as a technical director than as a player, Arturo Salah was a left-footer player. He came to play his last seasons to Palestino and at the age of 31, having previously played in Universidad Católica and Universidad de Chile, with whom he was highly identified. According to Victor Hugo Castañeda: “He was a tactical player, who was always at the service of the team. He contributed a lot because he took cared the youngest players, to advise us”.

Source: ‘Arturo Salah, Un Gran Alquimista’
Don Balón Nº282, 1997-11-21

Cristian Riadi (1994-1996)

Right wing back player who also could play as a centre-back. He came to Club Deportivo Palestino at 1994 from Provincial Osorno team. Riadi was a great promise, and in fact he was part of the u-23 national chilean team who participated on the 1992 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament. Inside his play skills was the header and game inticipation, virtues which carried him to Club Deportivo Palestino. He was a regular player, but however he never can show the scripts which it brought to La Cisterna, being labelled as ‘eternal promise’.

Source: Jorge Elias

Maher Chahuan (1997)

Defender who came from the youth divisions of the team. It was not used by the coach Jorge Aravena. We don’t have more registers about this player.

Roberto ‘Tito’ Bishara (2001-2004, 2005-2013)

Centre back who played for Club Deportivo Palestino in two periods: 2001 to 2004 and 2005 to 2013, adding a brief stay in Santiago Wanderers. He also defended the palestinian national team in 26 opportunities. He was a strong and direct player, he lived the 2008 campaign, in which Club Deportivo Palestino reached the final of the Clausura Tournament.

Despite his defensive function, he was a loyal player and fully identified with the team. Since his retirement from professional football, he is a field assistant on the Club Deportivo Palestino youth divisions.

Source: Harold Benson

Roberto ‘Peto’ Kettlun (2002-2003, 2005)

The case of ‘Peto’ is special. Since he came from Universidad Católica, and was only 2 seasons in Palestino. Nevertheless the year 2002 was quite fruitful because, in that team managed by Fernando Carvallo, ‘Peto’ gained the affection of the fanatics with good presentations.

The characteristic of Kettlun was its good shot and great physical display on the court which made him a mixed midfielder with great offensive skills. Those conditions would lead him to emigrate to the Greek league. After playing by many teams, finally settled in Palestine, and that’s why we call it a special case, as he became a sort of ambassador of the team, keeping great affection for the institution and retaining a fairly Especially with the ‘tricolor’ supporters, as well as proudly expressing its Arab origin.

Source: Jorge Elias

Edgardo Abdala (2004)

Holding midfielder who arrived to Club Deportivo Palestino in 2004 from Arturo Fernández Vial. Abdala also has the peculiarity about having been nominated to the palestinian national team, representing the Arab nation in several matches. Edgardo began to play by Palestine since 2002, even before its debut by Arturo Fernández Vial. It disputed the qualifying round for Germany 2006 World Cup, being a dream debut, since in the first party for such qualifiers, Palestine defeated China Taipei by 8-0 in 2004.

In his technical profile his toughness to recover the ball is emphasized, which get him the reputation of “hard” inside the local tournament.

Fuente: Jorge Elias

Jonathan Zacaría (2015-2016)

Midfielder coming from Club Atlético Argentino de Quilmes. He has a good dribbling skills, also he can colaborate with balls recovering, which allow him counter-attack oportunities. Zacaría is a left side midfielder, playing with so much sacrifice, being fast for offensive and defensive tasks as well. His stay in Palestine was productive, allowing the Club Deportivo Palestino game to be even more colorful in that unforgettable 2015. His good performances brought him to be transfered to Universidad de Chile in 2016.

Source: Jorge Elias

Shadi Shaban (2016)

Midfielder born in Acre and also nominated for the Palestinian National Team. He can play as offensive or defensive midfielder as well. The year 2016 came from Al-Ahli Al-Khaleel from Hebron. His case was quite special, since he did not play much with the first team, but it was a symbol of the brotherhood between Palestine and Club Deporivo Palestino. It was Remembered his prayer on the center of the field in that victory by 3-0 in Paraguay against Libertad for Copa Sudamericana 2016, whose image got anchored on the Club Deportivo Palestino supporters hearts.

Source: Jorge Elias