Libyan brothers relish freedom

Amid the escalating violence in Libya, football competitions were suspended, forcing the country’s leading players to pursue their careers in other countries. Arafa Elnnakoa flew to Malta in June to reunite with his younger brother Faisal at Division One club St Andrews. Kevin Azzopardi spoke to the two Libyan brothers

Arafa and Faisal Elnnakoa (Al Nakua) are the picture of serenity as they greet me with a warm handshake.

It’s a glorious autumn morning and the two brothers have just ended a training session at the Luxol Stadium. Both are living their dream of playing professional football in Malta with St Andrews but they can’t wait to return to their country, even if it is just for a few days only.

Over the past few months, the Elnakkoas, who hail from Tripoli, have spent most of their free time in front of their television sets, keeping tabs on events in Libya as the uprising gathered momentum.

Like the majority of their fellow countrymen, they rejoiced at the news that Libya had been liberated following the capture and death of Muammar Gaddafi.

Faisal was already living in Malta when the rebellion began in Benghazi but Arafa was still in Tripoli. As football came to a standstill, Arafa, who was playing for Al-Ittihad, sounded out his brother to help him secure a move to a Maltese club.

“I came to Malta to study English and play football around three years ago,” Faisal, the younger of the two siblings, said.

“I didn’t have a club but I tried my luck.

“I came here (to St Andrews) and asked for permission to train with the team, to have a trial.

“After a few training sessions, the coach (Wayne Attard) told me to stay but because I joined the team in mid-term, I had to wait until the start of the following season (2010/11) to play for St Andrews.”

Arafa, 29, arrived here in different circumstances.

“I had visited Malta to see my brother,” the softly-spoken Arafa recounted.

“I asked Faisal if I could train with his team in the few days I spent here.”

“He wanted to train to maintain his fitness,” Faisal pointed out.

“The coach accepted me and I really enjoyed training with the team,” Arafa, who has also played for Libya, continued.

“At the time, I was playing for Al-Ittihad. Football in Libya stopped because of the war. I came to Malta in June to join St Andrews.

“Most of the Libyan players fled to other countries to continue their careers because there was no football back home, everything stopped.”

The situation in Tripoli was still relatively quiet when Arafa departed for Malta.

“It was a bit strange,” Arafa said. “Some people went out to show their support for Gaddafi.

“There was also a demonstration against him but there was a shooting and it stopped immediately.

“In Libya, if you said something against Gaddafi, you were either killed or imprisoned.”

News of Gaddafi’s elimination brought feelings of joy and relief for the Elnnakoas.

“I was happy when I heard that Gaddafi had been caught,” Arafa said.

“Finally, after 42 years we have freedom,” Faisal added.

Arafa and Faisal stayed in regular contact with their family during the war which claimed the life of one of their relatives.

“One of my father’s cousins was against Gaddafi and from what we know, they shot him dead in the early days of the uprising,” Arafa said.

“Our entire family live in Tripoli, our parents, brothers, sisters and nephew (s)... they’ve been celebrating every day since the end of the war,” Faisal added.

The Elnnakoa brothers see a bright future for their country after the end of Gaddafi’s regime but reckon that the Libyans need to change their mentality to achieve the desired progress.

“Without Gaddafi it will be very good,” Faisal remarked. “It will take time and we need to change our mentality but it will surely be better.”

Faisal and Arafa hope to get the chance to visit their family for a few days in November.

“On November 7, we celebrate the Feast of Sacrifice in Libya,” Faisal said.

“We plan to spend a few days in Libya around that date to see our family and friends. We also want to see our country after all that has happened.”

Football focus

Arafa and Faisal, both midfield players, have settled in nicely here and are well-liked by their St Andrews team-mates.

While Faisal has had time to get to grips with the rigours of Maltese football, Arafa is still finding his feet in Division One.

“I like to play here but football in the first division is a bit rough whereas in Libya, it’s more based on technique,” Arafa said.“But, I’m getting used to it.”

Arafa said football in Libya has improved in the last five years. “In the last five years, football in Libya was a lot better than before,” Arafa said.

“They invested more in infrastructure and football schools opened across the country. Things were improving.”

A smile settles on Faisal’s face as he speaks about his experience in Maltese football so far.

“I have no problem with the nature of Division One football here, I can mix skill with strength,” Faisal said.

After retaining their Division One status last season, St Andrews want to maintain their upward curve by gaining promotion to the Premier League.

The Elnnakoas are very upbeat about their team’s chances of fighting for promotion.

“We have a good team,” Arafa observed. “With more experience, we can play in the Premier League.”

Faisal agrees. “If we can build on our win against Naxxar Lions (2-1), we can get into the Premier League,” he said.

Arafa has high hopes of rejoining the Libyan national team in the near future while the 22-year-old Faisal is determined to earn his first national call-up.

“I hope to get back into the national squad in the coming months,” Arafa commented.

Faisal said: “I’ve played for the U-20 Libya team and I hope to be selected for the senior side one day.”

St Andrews coach Wayne Attard had words of praise for the Elnnakoas.

“I’m very pleased with the way they’ve fitted in within the Luxol family,” Attard said. “Apart from their footballing qualities, Arafa and Faisal are very committed and dedicated.

“Their attitude is excellent, they are always among the last to leave the pitch after training.”

Although Arafa and Faisal were understandably concerned about the situation back home during the Libyan strife, they remained focused on their football.

“They are quiet lads,” Attard added.

“They keep themselves to themselves. The Libyan war may have been uppermost in their minds but they put their worries to one side during training and games.”