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.’
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 kind of support and awareness are people rallying around for Celine in her time of need?
**Interviewer:** Today, we have a very special guest joining us — Abbas Haider, the father of Celine Haider, the young Lebanese footballer who is currently in a medically induced coma following a devastating airstrike. Abbas, thank you for being here during such a difficult time.
**Abbas Haider:** Thank you for having me. It’s a tough time for our family, but I appreciate the opportunity to speak.
**Interviewer:** Celine was on the verge of realizing her dream of playing for Lebanon’s national women’s football team. Can you tell us a bit about her aspirations and what football meant to her?
**Abbas Haider:** Football was everything to Celine. She has always looked up to players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. She knew she had the talent and was working hard towards making a name for herself. It was her dream to not only represent her country but to also compete on an international level.
**Interviewer:** It must be incredibly painful to see her ambitions now overshadowed by this tragedy. Can you recount the events leading up to Celine’s injury?
**Abbas Haider:** Yes, it was heartbreaking. As the fighting intensified, our family, like many others, had to flee south Beirut. Celine returned to continue her education and training because she was determined not to let fear hold her back. Just before the airstrike, I warned her about evacuation orders. She left the house, but soon after, I received a call from my wife saying she was in the hospital. I couldn’t believe it.
**Interviewer:** That sounds incredibly traumatic. What do you know about her condition now?
**Abbas Haider:** She has suffered severe injuries, including a fractured skull and a brain hemorrhage. Her mother and I are devastated. We saw a video on social media that showed her unconscious, which has been hard to process. All we can do now is pray for her recovery.
**Interviewer:** Many people are rallying for her and bringing attention to her story. How do you feel about the support from the community and the media?
**Abbas Haider:** It’s overwhelming. While it pains me that the world is now learning about Celine’s name through this tragedy, it also gives us hope. She is a fighter, and I believe she will rise again. I just wish people knew her as the aspiring star she was, not as a victim of a war.
**Interviewer:** Your strength is inspiring during such a profound loss. Is there a message you wish to share with those who are following Celine’s story?
**Abbas Haider:** I want people to understand that she represents many young dreamers caught in conflicts like this. Celine’s talent and dreams are being shattered by circumstances beyond her control. I hope we can raise awareness about the impact of war on innocent lives. Thank you for allowing me to share Celine’s story.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Abbas. We are all hoping for Celine’s swift recovery and that her dreams can still be realized in the future.