The web but above all the Neapolitan people have mobilized to grant the wish of Naeem Rayyan, a 27-year-old Palestinian former accountant, a big Napoli fan who would like to see a match at the Maradona.
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After the publication of the news in the newspaper La Stampa, relaunched on his social pages by Maurizio De Giovanni, there was a long wave that began to travel on social media and also reached the mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi.
Today the mayor, through the pages of Il Mattino, announced that he has already taken action to see if Naeem's dream can become reality, contacting the Neapolitan company to explore the possibilities.
This evening, during the final of the Napoli award at the Mercadante theater, Manfredi and de Giovanni could have the opportunity to talk further about the young man and the realization of his dream.
Naeem's message after the victory against Atalanta
Last night, the young man shared his enthusiasm for the ceasefire and Napoli's victory over Atalanta on social media, declaring: "Tonight two joys. That of the ceasefire with the end of the war at the door and that of beating the'Atalanta and Napoli alone at the top of the table”.
Told on the pages of “La Stampa”, Naeem’s story is emblematic. Despite the war, the young man kept his passion for Napoli alive, following the matches even during the bombings. “I have been a fan of the Azzurri since I was a child and during the war, even under the bombings and as an evacuee, I didn’t miss a single match,” he explains.
Naeem's dream is clear: "I would like to visit Naples, watch a match at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium and walk through its streets."
The passion for Napoli and the daily struggle
Watching matches isn’t easy. Naeem says, “There’s almost never any electricity, so I use my car batteries and then recharge the battery with the neighbor’s solar cell.” Just a few months ago, Naeem started a Gofundme fundraiser, “Save Naim, a Napoli fan in Gaza,” which raised about 1.800 euros, which was used to build a small tanker truck for drinking water in the Nuseirat refugee camp.
Despite the dramatic situation, Naeem does not lose hope: "The first thing I will do when there are no more bombings is to go to the grave of my brother, killed months ago by the occupation." Life in his area is difficult: "We have not had water or electricity for a year and four months."
The intervention of Maurizio De Giovanni
Naeem's message was met with an outpouring of solidarity. The writer Maurizio de Giovanni he launched an appeal on social media stating: “It would be wonderful to invite him to Maradona. And share our passion. Which is peaceful, and very strong”. Naeem responded with gratitude, aware of the difficulties that his dream would entail, but still hopeful.
Article published on 20 January 2025 - 12:44
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