Lebanese youth footballer injured in Israeli strike determined to return to the pitch

BEIRUT: Shining young Lebanese footballer Celine Haidar is refusing to let a critical head injury she sustained after an Israel airstrike keep her down, and is determined to recover and return to the pitch.

“No pain, no gain … I am very gratified with where I’ve reached in my rehabilitation. Actually I’m surprised … I want to return to football once I complete my physiotherapy and retain my fitness,” Haidar, a 20-year-old youth international, told Arab News on Saturday.

Speaking at Mgr Cortbawi Institute and Rehabilitation Hospital, where she has stayed since waking up from a two-month coma in January, Haidar said she does not recall what happened on the ill-fated day of Nov. 16.

Her father, Abbas Haidar, said his daughter was hit in the head by a piece of flying shrapnel while fleeing their home in Beirut’s southern suburb during Israeli airstrikes.

Haidar, who captains her club, Beirut Football Academy, said: “I don’t remember exactly what happened. All I’m confident of is that I am determined to return to football once I am done with my treatment here in the best rehab center in Lebanon.”

The footballer, who was 19 when she got injured, says her treatment has been a “long and hard journey,” but now “it’s getting better.

“I’ve made a big improvement. I thank Allah the almighty. There’s nothing that could kill faithful people, and I will never give up because only losers do,” Haidar said when asked if she would return to the sport.

Speaking about her teammates’ support, she added: “The team have been caring about my health, and constantly check on me. They all support me and have faith in me rejoining them.”

Haidar, dubbed by her coach Samer Barbary as “Lebanon’s Sergio Busquets,” is described as a skillful and gifted midfielder, inspired by international stars Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.

“Coach Samer is the one who improved my skills and worked on getting me to where I am today,” said the Real Madrid fan, whose football icon is Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 20-year-old footballer also studies physical education at a private educational institute in Beirut.

“I am fascinated by the smartness of Kroos and Modric, and they both have made me love playing in midfield. Ronaldo is my forever idol … his football mentality is the best,” she said.

Meanwhile, Barbary told Arab News that the whole BFA team are “with her in her recovery and she is doing great, thank God.”

He admitted that the treatment is a long road, but that Haidar “is determined and fighting to get back on her feet.

“We are waiting for her and hopefully she can come back to us, but the focus is on her to come back to her full strength, and then we will think about football,” he added.

Haidar’s father told Arab News that his daughter has surprised the family with her strong determination in working on her recovery and treatment. “I cannot say anything more than we thank God,” said Abbas, who expressed his hopes to see Celine “livelier and healthier” than before.

Following her November injury, Haidar was admitted to Saint Georges Hospital, where she entered a coma. She could not speak and remained under extensive treatment for months, her father said.

According to video footage that Haidar shared on her recovery, she can now walk, though with a limp in her left leg. She can also climb stairs with some difficulty.

Haidar, a rising star in Lebanon’s football scene, represented her country as a member of the under-19 women’s side who won the 2022 West Asia Cup, hosted by Lebanon. She was also selected to play for the senior national team before her injury.

“Celine played a major role in us winning the 2024 league unbeaten,” Barbary said.

Before joining BFA in 2021, she played for Safa Club and with them won the Lebanese National League.