Jerrold Kessel (–2011)

This was disappointing. The subject matter itself wasn't the problem - the story of a financially challenged and distinctly unglamourous football club from the Arab sector of Israeli society should be fascinating material for anyone with an interest in either Israel and its sizeable (and often forgotten) Arab population and/or international club football. And indeed in many places this early 21st century documentary story of the Sons of Sakhnin Football Club is a classic of triumph (sort of) through adversity. But it was in the telling of their tale that I felt let down. It was supposed (I think) to be a piece of reportage, but came across as a little bit scattered, and perhaps a little bit of an afterthought. I might be mistaken but I think the book was produced after a more succesful documentary film was made?

The authors used a style of presenting dialogue between the many (too many) characters encountered in and around the Galilee town where no speech marks are used. No separate line or paragraph is used either. The effect is pretty disorientating. I didn't know half the time who was saying what and to whom. By about the middle of the book I was finding it plain annoying.

A real shame, because I was really rooting for Bnei Sakhnin (the club's Hebrew name) and their town. Unfortunately, the club's greatest triumph ever, at least on the pitch, that of winning the State Cup Final - so far the only Arab team to have ever done so, was somewhat 'missed' as it took place in the season before the in depth coverage by the authors began. Sure, there were a couple of early pages summing up what had happened the season or two before now, and where the club was coming from, but overall I felt that the potentially vibrant story of that dramatic triumph had been completely overlooked. Overall - a nice idea on a fascinating subject, sadly not executed nearly half as well as it deserved.… (plus d'informations)