Jordanian Football on the Rise: Interview with Famed Travel Guide - Firas Ahmed - "Football in Jordan is Improving and Evolving!"
By Chris KL Lau
Jordanian Football on the Rise: Interview with Famed Travel Guide - Firas Ahmed - "Football in Jordan is Improving and Evolving!"
Jordan is one of the jewels of the Middle East and literally one of the 'hottest' tourist destinations in the world. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is an incredible mixture of history and culture and was founded by King Adullah I. It is currently ruled by King Abdullah II, who is the son of the late King Hussien.
The national football team is known by their nickname al-Nashama, or the Brave as the team spirit often captures the sense of hope and hard work of the Jordanian people.
Jordan is also an ever-evolving footballing nation and though Jordan have never qualified for either the men's or women's World Cup Finals they have come close. They lost to Uruguay in a two-legged play-off for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The result in 2014 showed how far Jordanian football has progressed over the decades and the men's team have made waves in the Asian Cup, have appeared four times and reached the quarter-finals in the 2004 and 2011 editions where they fell to Japan and Uzbekistan respectively while in 2019, Jordan lost on penalties to Vietnam.
Jordan are also seen as dark horses in Asian and World football and are two-time champions of the Arab Games as they clinched the prestigious titles in 1997 and 1999.
Football in Jordan is serious business as the president of the football association is HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein. The Women's team are also consistently achieving solid results as they won the Arab Women's Championship in 2010 and the Women's WAFF Championships in 2019, 2014, 2007, and 2005.
Domestically, 12 teams make up the Jordanian Pro League. Football is the national sport and a huge passion in Jordan though the scorching heat and lack of indoor venues means Jordanian football does not reach its potential. Professional club, Al-Faisaly, are the defending champions of the 2022 season. Domestic teams can vie for the Jordan FA Cup, Jordan FA Shield and Jordan Super Cup and the season in 2023 began in August.
Interview with Firas Ahmed - Famed Jordanian Travel Guide
Why should people visit Jordan?
"The country, for one, is one of the safest countries that a person can visit or live in. Also it has a lot to offer in terms of religious sites and history and landscape and there is a lot to see in the country. And of course, the people are really polite and friendly and they will welcome people from all over the world. Visiting Jordan is really on the high list of places for people to visit."
What are the most famous sites in Jordan?
"I would say for the highlights of Jordan then Petra is number one and the Roman city of Jerash is one of largest and well preserved cities of the north. The Dead Sea is one of nature's wonders and the desert of Wadi Rum is a must see. People in Jordan are very kind people!"
"Jordan's national football team (men and women) are ok! They are not too great though they are improving and they play nicely and have their own style. The Jordan team has done well in the Asian Cup and once lost to Japan in the 2004 Asian Cup in the quarter-finals. Football in Jordan is evolving and improving."
Places to Visit in Jordan
Amman: The capital is Jordan is a bustling metropolis which is a nice mixture of modern and historical attractions. Over half the population of Jordan lives in Amman where traditional coffee shops and old souqs still thrive. The most popular destination is Rainbow Street where an array of restaurants and shops go up and down a long passage.
There are many five star hotels for visitors to stay in and venues to visit include the Museum of Popular Traditions, National Gallery of Fine Arts, Archaeological Museum and the Children's Museum amongst several attractions. There are also modern malls and a real sense of hustle and bustle like most large scale cities in the world.
Madaba: Known as the city of Mosaics and tied through history and tradition to the Holy Land. Here visitors can visit the Greek Orthodox church of St. George and Mount Nebo where Moses is buried and from the top of the hill, visitors can view the Dead Sea, Jericho, Jerusalem, and the Jordan River Valley.
The Dead Sea: Visitors can go to the many resorts at the lowest sea level on earth and enter the largest natural spa and be rejuvenated by the waters. There is the unique opportunity to float in the Dead Sea due to the build up of the salt levels then smear mud extracted from the floor on your skin as a form of purification.
Aqaba: The seaside resort of Aqaba is great for sea and beach sports and has a lively nightlife. Visitors can also go to Aqaba Marine Science station, Aqaba Birds Observatory and Aqaba fort amongst many venues to go too.
Petra: The Jewel of Jordan, Petra is more than two thousand years old and was built by the Nabataeans over the Shara mountain ranges. This site is officially a UNESCO Heritage site and the designs and facades carved into the sides of mountains are a sight to behold. The site made famous by the film, 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' is known as the 'Treasury' or 'Al-Khazneh' and is breathtaking when it first comes into view. For intrepid explorers who are willing to hike then going up nearly 1000 steps will take you to the stunning monastery on the hill.
Wadi Rum: Known as the land of the Bedouin due to the number of tribes who live in the region, this is a visually stunning landscape with desert sandscapes and sheer mountains for as far as the eye can see. Tourists can take jeep tours around famed areas like the Burrah Canyon and Khazali canyon; for the adventurous, they can camp under the night skies or at one of the many campsites where visitors can enjoy a glimpse of desert life.
Jerash: One of the best preserved Roman aged sites in the world is home to restored locations such as Hadrian's Arch, Colonnaded Street and the Hippodrome.
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