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 make 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.’
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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 Sameer Barbari said during her visit to the hospital. She is a phenomenal girl and a great player.’
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How has the recent airstrike impacted Celine Haider’s family and their hopes for her recovery?
**Interview with Abbas Haider, Father of Celine Haider**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Abbas. We know this is a very difficult time for you and your family. Can you share a bit about Celine and her dreams in football?
**Abbas Haider:** Thank you for having me. Celine has always been passionate about football. She was only 19 years old but had dreams of playing for the Lebanese women’s national team. She looked up to great players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi; she wanted to be a star and make her mark in the sport.
**Interviewer:** It’s heartbreaking to see such talent affected by conflict. Can you tell us what happened on the day of the airstrike that injured her?
**Abbas Haider:** It was a chaotic time. Like many families, we had evacuated to stay safe from the Israeli bombardment. Celine had returned to South Beirut for her education and to train. On that day, I warned her about new evacuation orders, but shortly after she left home, I received a call from my wife saying Celine had been injured.
**Interviewer:** That must have been devastating to hear. What injuries did she sustain?
**Abbas Haider:** Celine suffered serious head injuries, including a fractured skull and a brain hemorrhage. She was transported to Saint George Hospital and underwent emergency surgery. She is currently in a medically induced coma, and we are all praying for her recovery.
**Interviewer:** There has been a powerful reaction to Celine’s story and the video circulating online. What do you think this says about the situation in Lebanon right now?
**Abbas Haider:** It shows how innocent lives are shattered by this ongoing conflict. My daughter is a victim of circumstances beyond her control. She just wanted to play football, to live her dream, and now she is in a situation that no one should have to face. Everyone is talking about her now, but not for the reasons she dreams of. It’s tragic.
**Interviewer:** Your family, like many others, has been affected by the war. How have you been coping with all of this?
**Abbas Haider:** It’s incredibly difficult. We are deeply worried about Celine and what her future holds. Our family’s dreams are on hold, and it’s heartbreaking to see her struggle. My wife and I are trying to remain strong for her, holding on to the hope that she will heal and one day chase her dreams again.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Abbas, for sharing Celine’s story with us. Our thoughts are with her and your whole family during this challenging time.
**Abbas Haider:** Thank you for your kind words and for bringing attention to Celine’s situation. We hope for peace so that families like ours can live without fear.