Published Story
Boxing, Tennis, and Inter-Club Resistance
Image Source – Jaffan Adib Al-Dasouki, Boxing Champion of Palestine “The entire western world has been talking about this Arab athlete who’s challenging American press in its weight, its strength, its size…they’re all...
“The entire western world has been talking about this Arab athlete who’s challenging American press in its weight, its strength, its size…they’re all wondering who he is..the one who’s been standing in the boxing ring for over 20 years…to confront with all his strength, perseverance, and faith…To confront with his unbeatable iron will..his Arabism and nationalism all the boxing giants of the world. Those who have instilled fear in the hearts of many amateurs and experts of this rough sport”
A piece about Adib Al-Dasouki in Al Rai’ al-’Am (Public Opinion) Newspaper
Jaffa’s Boxing Champion, Adib Al-Dasouki
Adib Al-Dasouki was Palestine’s boxing champion in 1935-48. Born in 1914 in Jaffa, Al-Dasouki was not only an excellent athlete but also a top figure in supporting young athletes and preparing them for the world stage. Al-Dasouki was active in his sport, having matches with many boxers from the Arab region, as well as international boxers. These matches took place on the prestigious al-Hamra Cinema’s stage, or the Collège des Frères stage among other venues. Adib started his career in the Islamic Sports Club of Jaffa.
Afterwards in the late 1930s, Al-Dasouki and his coach Mazin Hakki established an Olympic Institute in Jaffa which rapidly grew and continued Al-Dasouki’s vision of sparking interest for boxing amongst Arab athletes, improving the boxing level on a local, regional, and international scale.
Upon a visit to the institute, a Jaffa municipality member wrote in Falastin Newspaper – “I was invited yesterday with a team of friends to visit the Jaffan Olympic Institute, which is an institute concerned with teaching participants the rules and art of boxing. The institute is overseen by the rising and popular athlete Adib Al-Dasouki who has a strong desire to empower youth to practice boxing and make room for it in the local sports scene, like all other developed countries. . .[Al-Dasouki’s Work] is an honorable service which he provides for his country out of his goodwill, to raise and uphold its name and status as we have witnessed a successful sports coach in our visit. . .We urge Jaffans to appreciate his efforts of establishing such an institute and invite all the youths to join in order to win sports matches in the future and honor the name of their home country.”
Al-Dasouki had a dream of having a match with Muhammad Ali, but he only got a chance to meet him after Dasouki’s exile in 1948.
In 1948, Adib Al-Dasouki served in the Palestinian brigade under the Egyptian army trying to defend his city and country. After Jaffa fell and the boxing champion turned a refugee, Al-Dasouki went to Iraq and became a boxing coach. This was followed in 1953 by his move to Damascus where he was a self-defense and boxing coach for the Syrian Ministry of Defense. Finally, he set up his own club in Jordan and his children continue his legacy in Jordan to this day.
Circle Sportive
In 1911, the well-known Jaffan Alfred Roch established a sports club in the city. And soon a group of young Jaffans established a sporting club in Al Ajami neighborhood called “al-Montada al Riyadi” (Sports Forum), later renaming it “Circle Sportive.” Circle Sportive is recognized as the first athletic, cultural, and social club in the entirety of Palestine. Circle Sportive was a general sports club particularly promoting tennis. The club started hosting tennis tournaments and was active until 1948.
When Sports and Culture Meet Solidarity
Sports were also a crucial part of cultural/religious foundations in Jaffa, with the Orthodox Youth Club and the Islamic Sports Club (where Adib Al-Dasouki trained) being good examples. The Orthodox Club was particularly known for its football team, making it one of the strongest teams in the country. Sports clubs also hosted intellectual and creative activities like big concerts, intellectual panels, poetry recitals, and national festivals.
During the Great Palestinian Revolt between 1936-39, the Palestinian boxing champion Al-Dasouki was arrested with his brother and father due to their involvement. The curfews, the general strike, and British brutality negatively impacted the sports scene. The Orthodox Club was forced to close down by the British Mandate forces, who took over and transformed the big vicinity into quarters for their army. The Orthodox Club was a pillar in Palestinian society, only in Jaffa, and it supported a lot of activities and a lot of people. The Islamic Sports Club invited the Orthodox Club administrators and offered their own premises for use as an office. The Islamic Sports Club also provided the Orthodox Club meeting rooms to proceed with their projects. The Islamic Sports Club drafted a protest letter to the governor, defending the Orthodox Club. When it came to social cohesion, Jaffan solidarity crossed religion, class, and affiliation. The Orthodox Club in Jaffa expanded into a Jordanian branch which is thriving and active in Amman today.
References
https://www.facebook.com/534852869884658/posts/2857150620988193/