“I have been privileged to play alongside players like Bruno Xavier and Llorenç”

Israeli influencer and beach soccer player Hamada Anwar Jabaren opens up about his life in beach soccer

Football player, coach, referee, lawyer, influencer…oh and beach soccer player. Is there anything that Hamada Anwar Jabaren doesn’t do? 

Hamada was born in Israel on 1st August 1990. He studied a Bachelors in Physical Education and has been a football fanatic all of his life. He has used his various talents to generate an impressive following on social media, with over 35,000 followers on Instagram.

He now plays beach soccer alongside the very best as well as numerous other activities. It’s safe to say that he is a busy guy…

“I am a physical education teacher and a professional football player. I am also a kids’ soccer coach and I work alongside these activities.

I am relatively new to this beach soccer as I’ve only been playing for around three years. I remember when I received my first call to come play. They were a very good team but I preferred to join the game at a slightly lower level to gain experience.” 

Actually, his first season in the sport didn’t go badly at all. Some people just have the knack on the sand!

“The first year, I was a best new player in Israel with 13 goals and after that I signed with the national champions and the best team in the country, Falfala Kfar Qassem. With them, I participated in the European Championship – and I scored goals too!”

Although he plays 11-aside football professionally, there is something that really sets beach soccer aside for the Israeli forward.

“For me one of the best things about being a beach soccer player specifically, is I love being able to score a goal from any position on the field and getting goals is the most fun thing.”

He has accomplished a lot is his time in beach soccer, but who else would the Israeli credit for his success so far?

“I think I was privileged to play alongside Brazilian captain and former Best Player in the World, Bruno Xavier. Listening to his briefings and instructions was amazing. The thing that I won’t forget is when, on one of our days off, Bruno called me and said “Let’s practice”. My house was an hour away from the field but of course I drove straight there.

Adas Issa also had a big part to play in my development. He would come to me before the games and tell me, “today you will score a hattrick!”, and it would always give me strength.

For me the biggest influences for me who are playing now are Bruno Xavier and Filipe Silva from Brazil and Llorenç. It’s a pleasure to see Bruno’s determination and Filipe’s great talent is just incredible to witness. And, apart from all of his hair styles, it’s amazing to see his agility and skill on the sand. Actually, I watch a lot of beach soccer, whenever I can, and I love watching these guys play.

In my three years in beach soccer, I think I’ve experienced a lot of things that players in the industry haven’t experienced before. A great honour for me was to win the best new player and score 13 goals in a new sport, when it was the first time I had played it.

Other great honours are the Israel Championship with Falfala Kfar Qassem, participating in Europe with some of the best people in the beach soccer world, such as Bruno Xavier and Coach Ramiro Amarelle.”

Beach soccer is undoubtedly on the rise across the globe and in Israel it is no different. Big teams, who have been represented by the world’s best players, such as Falfala Kfar Qassem are competing in the Euro Winners Cup and raising the level in their national championships too. 

“We arrange the beach soccer season around the school and professional calendar each year. It’s a good way of making sure that as many people can be involved as possible.

From year to year it has been a glorious and progressive hope that over time the league will not be just one tournament.”