Transcripts For BBCNEWS Our World 20170611

First, our world, and football on the front line. They are the unlikely sporting heroes in a country ripped apart by conflict. Syria is in the midst of a bloody civil war, but the National Football team is trying to send a message it hopes can transcend political and religious differences. Im following the team as they compete for a place in footballs biggest tournament The World Cup. Some syrians refuse to support the team because its associated with the assad regime, but for others, even those who fled syria in fear of their lives, the team is a symbol of national pride. The team has defied the odds by beating some of asias biggest and best. Syria now theyre on the road again, competing for so much more than just football glory. Its friday afternoon in damascus and the weekend is under way. Prayers in the morning and, like so many places around the world, football in the afternoon. Its here that i meet ta rek jabban, assistant coach of syrias National Team. Im joining him as he watches a low key fixture in syrias premier league, which is also attempting to carry on despite the conflict. Syrian Football Fans have much to cheer about right now. Their National Side has performed beyond expectations, as they try to qualify for next years world cup in russia. Economic sanctions mean the country, and therefore football, has little money. What cash there is comes from the Assad Government, keen to use football to give the impression of a united, functioning state. Syrian players need somebody to support the team. Ourfederation, our government. Now our equipment, our conditions is not what we want. Syrian government officials are keen to show us that football is flourishing. Lets go and meet the man. We can learn more about this. Its half time and tarek introduces me to his boss, the head coach of the National Football team and the man responsible for their recent good results. You beat china 1 0. You drew with south korea. Theres a real opportunity here for syria to go to a world cup. Do the players now believe, do they have the belief in their hearts that they can qualify for The World Cup . Syrias president , bashar al assad, wants the perception to be that his country is returning to normal, and sport helps with that aim. But regardless of his intentions, its clear that sport, that football coming back to syria provides the people with a chance to forget about their worries at least, for 90 minutes. After six years of war, more games are being played and fans are slowly returning. But football is only possible in government held areas and not in large swathes of this country outside the regimes control. This season is interesting because all the Syrian People want to come back to stadiums, want to support the teams. Its 2 2 at the moment. Yes. Lets see if anyone can get a late winner. I think its the first time in this field, er, two teams score four goals. Because all games in this field. Theres another one. Its a goal 32. We saw all games in this field finishing 1 0, 0 0. 10, 00. Its the first time maybe, er. Five goals. Because maybe you are coming this time. Its the bbcs fault yes. We should come every week they chant. What looks like normal life does go on in president assads damascus and youd be forgiven at times for thinking there is no war. Thats how syrias leader wants it. Here on the east side of damascus, were at a Football Field thats been hit in the past by mortar fire. Very few of the National Team play in syria, but five star players are here, training with their local club side. For a variety of reasons, theyve stayed in syria, their Career Choices complicated by the war. Every so often, you can hear the sound of an aerial artillery shell going off somewhere in the distance. Were very close here to one of the front lines, even as we are in the centre of damascus. But the players, theyre not fussed. They havent even raised an eyebrow. This is the sound of war. Its something theyve grown up with. Omar al midani is one of the younger members of the National Team. Does this team really believe it can go on and qualify for russia . The training looks familiar. Thats where similarities between the game here and in other countries ends. The difference is not just the conditions, but the hopes and expectations that are placed upon this team. There is no part of life in assad controlled syria untouched by the regime. Every facet of society, especially where there is success, such as with the National Football team, is presented as a sign of a functioning state. But the illusion is easily shattered. We were filming at a market when we heard a very loud explosion nearby. There are reports that a number of people have been killed, so were going now to see if we can find out whats happened and see what damage has been caused. Two devices have detonated. One by the roadside, another by a Suicide Bomber targeting mainly shia pilgrims visiting from iraq. All of a sudden, im a war reporter. Our correspondent, richard conway, is at the scene. This is the largest attack to hit damascus in some time. A Suicide Bomber detonated his device in this commercial district, in the centre of damascus, killing at least a0 people, injuring dozens more. Working as a Sport Correspondent means you simply dont see devastation like this. The number of People Killed rose over time to 7a. The experience is a shocking and a harrowing insight into the painful realities of life in syria. What before had beenjust words about the conflict, war and bombings was now very real in my mind. Id come to syria to find out how football could possibly thrive and matter in a time of war, but right now, that question seemed more difficult to answer than ever. Ok, this is important medals from my life. This is the under 19s. Tarek has devoted much of his life to syrian football. We won 2 1. And in this box are the medals that prove it. This is you, yeah, with the captains armband . Yes, number five. Yeah. But that was before the war. Now is many players now in our National Team, but i am. So now youre their coach . Yes. So youve gone from being, playing with them, to now. Today, the majority of the most talented players look to play abroad. There is a big difference because now, you understand, before six years, all syrian players in the National Team was being in syria. But now we need our players to play outside syria. Er, i think who play inside, i think his level is not good for the future. Look at that this is for you and your group. Oh, thats very kind, you baked us a cake thats so kind of you. Thank you very much. Yes, youre welcome. Tarek is preparing to say goodbye to his family and fly to malaysia. Sanctions and the war mean this team must play its home games on neutral ground. A 14,000 kilometre round trip awaits. The game against uzbekistan is arguably the most important match in syrias history. There is Political Capital for the assad regime in the teams success, but i cant help but wonder if those forced to flee syria will be supporting the team too. Nearly five Million People have sought refuge abroad from the syrian civil war. 80,000 of them are here, in the zaatari camp, in northern jordan. Just a few kilometres from the syrian border, its a living, Breathing Testament to the human cost of war. Mohammad al khalaf was a professional footballer with the syrian top flight club al majd, but when his brother was killed by a shell which hit their house, he together with his family escaped over the border to jordan. Like many here, he is angry. Mohammad is beginning to get his Football Career back on track and still supports the National Team. Issam al masri is just 22 and considered the best player in camp. The medals he has here are all from playing football inside zaatari. He was a young talent with professional side al shouleh, in the city of daraa, but in 2012, he fled with his family. Like mohammad, he is trying to resurrect his career. He coaches the children here in the camp. He admits to me like many, its hard for him to talk openly. The guarded language used even here in the refugee camp makes it clearjust how fearful people are of talking about politics. But still, like mohammad, issam supports the National Side. Life here in camp, its tough, but the people here are safe, having escaped from the war. Now, footballs one of the central activities that kids get to enjoy. Its fun, it gives them a sense of purpose, but it also gives them something thats very precious, having escaped from the conflict a sense of a normal childhood. Whats your Favourite Team . Real madrid. What about england . Does anyone like an english team . I do, chelsea. Manchester united. Juventus. Juventus . Thats in italy. What about. Well, black and white, what about Newcastle United . Whos heard of Newcastle United . Thats my team. He laughs. Show me your name. Ronaldo. Youre ronaldo. Youre like a mini ronaldo yeah who are your favourite players in syria, your syrian players . Why does everyone like al somah so much . Yeah . All right, high fives, everyone. I had wondered how much these children would know of syrian football, but clearly, the players are heroes. Football matters because of the hope it can provide. Even here, amongst those displaced by civil war and who have lost loved ones to the regime, i got a strong sense of a love and pride for their country that rises above politics and endures in spite of the suffering. It feels as though the countrys Football Team provides people with a safe focus for those feelings. The historic malaysian resort town of malacca is the venue for syrias crucial match against uzbekistan, and its nowjust days away. Those members of the squad whove travelled from syria have been joined by players earning much bigger money in the likes of china, kuwait and saudi arabia. The range of salaries is matched by the range of religions and backgrounds within the squad. I catch up with omar again and he introduces me to mardik mardikian, one of the few christians to play for the syrian side. Of course, more controversial than religious differences are political ones. The side has long been multi faith, but for this important match, a first. Firas al khatib, one of the greatest syrian footballers of this generation, left syria and criticised the assad regime. As a result, he has not played in five years, but hes returning to the squad for this match. Beyond funding, the extent to which the Assad Government is involved in team affairs is unknown. The mix of faiths and now politics within the squad certainly sends a message that the regime wants heard. Syria can come together. At least, for football. But many former players havent returned. Before the war, Mohannad Al Ibrahim represented syria 31 times. The conflict forced him to pursue his career abroad. Hes been asked repeatedly to play again for the National Team, but so far has not, for what he describes as personal reasons. Politics is probably not on the minds of the National Team players as they arrive at the stadium for their game against uzbekistan. Right now, they are dealing with another p pressure. With their past performances and with all this talk of their success, expectation rises amongst their fans. Syria there are about 100 syria fans in the stadium. The countrys footballing ambitions now rest on the shoulders of these 11 players. Cheering. Chanting. Its a close game. At half time, its goalless. In a sports club in damascus, the tension is palpable, as fans watch the game head towards the final minutes. A win here is absolutely crucial to syrias world cup hopes. Syria then, in the final minutes, returning star Firas Al Khatib is fouled and wins a penalty. Omar kharbin scores. And syria have a famous victory. Syria its meaning to those in damascus is clear. The final score is syria one, uzbekistan zero so too here in malaysia. Syria coach, lovely to meet you. Good luck in south korea. This team operates under unique circumstances. They have a real belief they are playing for the Syrian People. The achievements really do seem to transcend both sport and politics. It demonstrates the power of sport and how, even amidst the horrors of a civil war that has ripped syria apart, it can matter so much, to so many. Lets ta ke lets take a look at the weather. There was an area of low pressure and thicker cloud becoming. This picture was taken one i weather watchers in the highlands of scotland. Skies and rain but are com pletely scotland. Skies and rain but are completely different look in the channel islands. Lovely afternoon with sunshine. We have an area of low pressure drifting at three eastwards towards scandinavia doing monday. It leaves behind a squeeze on the isobars. The pressure is rising. A few showers in the north west but a lot of dry weather through monday. One or two early showers on england are miles but they will fade. Eastern scotland is doing well and will the breaks in the cloud in the eastern pennant. Many southern counties doing well too. 19 degrees in aberdeen and closer to 17 further west. 11 or 15 in glasgow, cloud and showers coming and going. Today even, in the evening, wetter weather in Western Scotla nd evening, wetter weather in Western Scotland into the few hours of Tuesday Morning and rain in wales. Ten to 13 degrees that as though spots are lower. On tuesday, Northern England will have a Cloud And Rain Coming and going. Itll bryson on in the north of scotland. In wales, a decent day with their variable cloud. It will be warm, up to 19 in cardiff, 20 223 in london, 17 in glasgow and belfast. Into the middle of the week and High Pressure is dominant force for much of the uk. The Weather Systems bring in a breeze and rain to the north west of the uk, so we breezy, cloudy with rain, especially in Western Scotland. The rain moves northwards with a southerly breeze, dry and bright for most of england and wales. Low 20s quite wildly, upper 20s in the corner. Very warm for some of us in the middle of the week. But the Sea Changes On thursday as this Weather Front comes in from the west. Its a cold fronts and it brings rain. Behind it, fresh air with temperatures dropping by a notch or two. As the cold comes in, the rain does. You will motor is potential for thundery showers in the easterly corner. London down to 16 or 17 the easterly corner. London down to 16 or17 in the easterly corner. London down to 16 or 17 in glasgow and belfast. The jet stream tends to drive the Bowel Pressure Systems towards. You are likely to see areas of low pressure developing, dragged away by the jet stream. High pressure likely to moving from the south. As we get on into next weekend. That will bring the wind in from the south. We could see things warming up at low pressure towards the north likely to bring some rain to the north and west of the uk. There will be a breeze to go with that. Elsewhere, is looking promising. Lots of dry weather and expecting to see the temperatures back on the rise. The big question is, how long will that High Pressure system stick around