Lebanon Of Footballer Celine Haider was about to make her dream of playing for her country’s women’s team a reality, but the 19-year-old has been put into a medically induced coma after being injured in an Israeli airstrike.
Selene Haider’s family was among more than a million people who fled south Beirut and other Hezbollah strongholds due to Israeli bombardment after fighting broke out in September.
“But Celine had to return to (south) Beirut for her education and training,” her father Abbas Haider told AFP news agency.
He said that ‘after the announcement of evacuation or the bombing intensified, she would leave the house and then she would return home to sleep at night.’
Now he is another player, who became a victim of Israeli attacks. The attacks have already forced the Lebanese Football Association to indefinitely suspend football competitions in their country.
On Saturday, her father called to warn her of new evacuation orders posted online by the Israeli army, and she left home.
But soon after, ‘my wife called me to tell me Celine was in the hospital,’ he said.
She was seriously injured in an Israeli attack on her hometown, when the air force struck the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The skull was fractured
The video, which shows Celine Haider lying unconscious on the ground, her face covered in blood, while a young man near her cries in pain, has taken Lebanese social media by storm.
An unidentified handout photo obtained from the Lebanese Football Association on Nov. 19, 2024 shows Lebanese footballer Celine Haider celebrating with the tournament cup after a soccer match in Jordan (Lebanese Football Association via A FP)
His mother, Sana Shahroor, told the news agency AFP that the attack happened nearby and hit him in the head. My daughter has a brain haemorrhage, her skull is fractured.’
Shahroor said her daughter had sent her a message, asking her to cook her favorite dishes, but ‘an hour later her friend called to say she was injured.’
“My daughter is a heroine, she will rise,” he said. His eyes were red with tears.
He said, ‘She used to dream of competing abroad. She wants to be like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. She wanted to be a star and wanted everyone to talk about her.
Now everyone is talking about her because she got injured in a war she had nothing to do with. They have shattered their dreams.’
This section contains related reference points (Related Nodes field).
Warriors in the field
Haider was a key player for her club Beirut Football Academy (BFA), which won the Lebanese Women’s Football League last season without dropping a single point, and is set to take over as captain this season.
The midfielder was also part of the national women’s under-18 team that won the 2022 West Asian Football Federation Championship.
Team manager Ziyad Saadi said that he is now in a medically induced coma.
“Doctors are monitoring him closely,” his father told AFP from Beirut’s St. Georges Hospital.
‘But her injuries are serious, we hope she will recover slowly,’ said her father with teary eyes. We are paying for something that is not our fault.’
Lebanese authorities say that more than 3,544 people have been killed since the exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel began in October last year.
“On the field, she is a warrior, playing in the middle position to get the ball to the strikers,” coach Samir Barbari said during her visit to the hospital. She is a phenomenal girl and a great player.’
#Lebanese #female #footballer #injured #Israeli #attack #coma
What impact has Celine Haider’s injury had on her family’s life and aspirations for her future in football?
**Interview with Celine Haider’s Father, Abbas Haider**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Haider. We are deeply saddened by Celine’s current situation and the circumstances that led to her injury. Can you tell us about Celine’s dreams in football before this tragedy struck?
**Abbas Haider:** Thank you for having me. Celine has always dreamed of representing Lebanon on the national women’s football team. For a young girl growing up in Lebanon, that’s a huge ambition, especially in a country where access to sports can be challenging for women. She trained hard, and not long ago she was celebrating victories with her team. She wanted to be a star, much like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
**Interviewer:** It must be incredibly painful to see her dreams shattered in such a tragic way. Can you walk us through the day of the attack?
**Abbas Haider:** That day was like any other, filled with hope and plans for her future. I had just warned her about the escalation of attacks and told her to be careful. She left home as she often did to attend her training. Moments later, I received a call from my wife. Celine had been injured in an airstrike in our hometown. It’s unbearable to think about how quickly our lives changed.
**Interviewer:** The depth of the situation is heart-wrenching. What do you want the world to know about Celine and her story?
**Abbas Haider:** I want people to understand that Celine is a talented young woman who has been caught in the crossfire of a conflict she did not choose. She is not just a statistic; she has hopes, dreams, and a family that loves her. Her injury has not only taken away her dream of playing football but has highlighted the harsh realities faced by many young people in war zones.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing Celine’s story with us, Mr. Haider. We all hold out hope for her recovery. Is there anything you would like to say in closing?
**Abbas Haider:** Yes, thank you. My daughter is a hero in my eyes, and I believe she will rise from this. I hope her story helps others understand the impact of war on innocent lives, particularly young women who aspire to achieve their dreams. We need to push for peace and support for all those affected by these conflicts.
