NARROW ESCAPE!

Israeli-based Jamaican striker Javon East said he and his family narrowly escaped danger after leaving Israel just before Iranian missiles struck a section of the country where he was based on Saturday afternoon.

Iran retaliated strongly following a joint attack by Israel and the United States, escalating tensions in the region. East, 30, who has been playing in Israel for the past two seasons, said the situation was frightening as he witnessed the unfolding crisis firsthand.

“I am now in Jordan and things are fine now, but I am more concerned about the family than myself. Nothing is happening in this area of Jordan that I am in now. But I have seen airstrikes passing this airspace here in Jordan to go to Israel,” East said.

“I left Israel the same day the attack started, because it was on our way to Jordan that the attack started, so we have seen missles being intercepted in Israeli airspace,” he said.

“I was very worried on the flight to Jordan because it could have been a situation where one of those missiles could hit our plane. I am not from a country where something like this happens, so it was very scary for me and my family just seeing all of this happening around us,” said East, who also resides in Israel with his partner and young child.

Six goals

East, who now plays for Hapoel Be’er Sheva, joined the club at the end of last season after transferring from Hapoel Haifa FC. He was in excellent form for Hapoel Haifa, netting six goals and providing three assists after arriving midseason. So far, he has played two games for Hapoel Be’er Sheva but is yet to open his account.

The striker disclosed that he had been living in one of the main areas targeted in the attacks.

“I lived in one of the main areas that they attacked in Israel, but I was supposed to have a flight from Jordan to Dubia. But they have started to attack Dubai and so, therefore, the airport in Dubai is closed and we cannot leave Jordan right now,” East said.

“My team worked very fast, because they tried to get us out of Israel as quickly as possible, and that is why I am in Jordan right now; and we just have to stay here until things are back to normal.”

East, a former Calabar High School standout, noted that although he is relieved to be out of immediate danger, his main concerns remain for his family’s safety.

“My family is a little calm now because we are outside of Israel, but we are still worried. We are trying to seek the best option for a country that we can go to right now, because we are going to try to go to Costa Rica and then Jamaica,” he stated.

Despite the uncertainty, East remains focused on his football ambitions. The Reggae Boyz forward, who made his international debut in 2018 and has scored two goals in 20 appearances, is determined to succeed with his new club once stability returns.

“I plan to win this league with my new club and then go to the Champions League and to score as many goals as I can; because that is what I am here for, to score goals,” East said.