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 situation in Lebanon affected Celine’s football training and education, particularly in light of recent conflicts?
**Interview with Abbas Haider, Father of Celine Haider, Lebanese Footballer**
*Host:* Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Haider. We are deeply saddened to hear about your daughter, Celine. Can you tell us more about her and her dreams before the recent events?
*Abbas Haider:* Thank you for having me. Celine is just 19 years old and has always dreamt of playing for the Lebanese women’s national football team. She put in a lot of hard work and was excited about the possibility of representing our country on an international stage. She looked up to football legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
*Host:* That’s a powerful dream. Can you explain what led Celine back to southern Beirut during such dangerous times?
*Abbas Haider:* Yes, it was a tough decision. Our family, like so many others, had to flee south Beirut due to the Israeli bombardments. But Celine felt it was essential to return for her education and football training. She was very committed to pursuing her ambitions, even while the conflict escalated.
*Host:* On the day of the attack, what were the circumstances surrounding her injury?
*Abbas Haider:* I had just called to warn her about the new evacuation orders from the Israeli army. She had left home after that, but just a short while later, my wife called me in panic to say Celine was in the hospital. She had been seriously injured by an Israeli airstrike that struck our neighborhood.
*Host:* It must be incredibly difficult to process that. Can you share details about her current condition?
*Abbas Haider:* Celine is in a medically induced coma. She suffered a fractured skull and has a brain hemorrhage. It’s devastating to see her like this; she has so much potential and a bright future ahead.
*Host:* The social media reaction has been intense. What are your thoughts on how the public is responding to Celine’s story?
*Abbas Haider:* It is somewhat bittersweet. Celine is now receiving attention because of this tragedy, not for her talents or achievements. I hope that people recognize not just her plight but the broader impacts of the ongoing conflict in Lebanon. Celine deserves to be known for her dreams, not just as a victim of war.
*Host:* Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your family’s story with us, Mr. Haider. Our thoughts are with Celine and your family during this difficult time.
*Abbas Haider:* Thank you. I believe in my daughter’s spirit, and I’m hopeful she will recover and fulfill her dreams one day.
