Zaatari residents find solace in football away from home

ZAATARI REFUGEE CAMP — When 15-year-old Mohammad Haj Ali arrived at the Zaatari camp two years ago, his main concern was to be able to play football.

Haj Ali managed to make new friends at the camp, some 90km northeast of Amman, and has made it a point to play football with them as much as possible to stay connected to his passion.

“Since I was a child, I have been a big fan of [Spanish football club] Real Madrid, and I really love football. I joined the Syrian football club Wihda,” he told The Jordan Times at a pitch constructed at the camp. 

The Daraa-born teenager had the chance to play a serious game of football as he used to back home when he joined several young Syrians in a tournament that was held to mark this year’s World Refugee Day in the camp.

Syrian boys and girls gathered at a big tent on Monday to cheer for their favourite team in the finals.

As soon as the referee announced the end of the game, fans and players went straight to their head coach and lifted him up, celebrating their victory.

Syrian coach Mohammad Khateeb said football is the best way to make Syrians forget their problems. 

“The ongoing leagues help alleviate the sufferings of young Syrians and these competitions help them make new friends,” Khateeb told The Jordan Times as he watched the match. 

He noted that football is a global game that everyone enjoys playing.  

“It is a way for them to have an entertaining day.” 

“Boys and girls aged 15 and under took part in the tournament. A total of 30 boys’ teams and 15 girls’ teams participated,” Khateeb said, noting that football training activities at the camp started two years ago and more than 500 children have taken part in competitions. 

“I was a footballer in Syria and Lebanon so I already have a passion for the game,” the Brazil fan added.   

Mahmoud Hariri, a 12-year-old from Daraa, said football gives him the chance to spend his free time doing something entertaining.

“I like playing football in the camp because this is the only activity I can do here,” the Germany football team fan added. 

Camp Manager Hovig Etyemezian said the event was held to raise awareness of the situation of refugees.

“We wanted to send a message that the international community needs to step up to support the refugees and support Jordan until the conflict is over and Syrians are back in their country,” he added. 

Etyemezian noted that football keeps young people busy and active “in a very positive way”.

The tournament was organised by UNHCR, the Asian Football Development Project and UEFA Foundation for Children.

“Football is one of the biggest sports in Syria and it started from the refugees themselves,” Etyemezian added, noting that Zaatari now offers proper pitches and more than 50 teams have been formed in the camp. 

“We have close to 600,000 refugees registered in Jordan; most of them live in urban areas, so... we want the world to remember that whereas the refugees are around 100,000 in most of the camps in Jordan, most refugees live outside the camps in the host community and they are maybe less visible, and we want the world to not forget them,” he said. 

In a statement on the occasion of World Refugee Day, annually marked on June 20, the UNHCR said the activities held under the theme “Standing Together” highlight the refugee situation in Jordan and demonstrate the gratitude of UNHCR and other humanitarian organisations to the Kingdom for its hospitality and solidarity. 

“For decades, Jordan has offered a safe haven to vulnerable civilians of all nationalities,” the statement quoted UNHCR Representative to Jordan Andrew Harper as saying.

“Despite the lack of resources, the Jordanian community has shown great generosity towards the refugees, and this is why we felt that ‘Standing Together’ is the ideal theme to describe the situation today.”

He called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities towards the Syrian refugees and host communities.

“In the absence of a clear sign to end this conflict, it is imperative upon the international community to do more to help the refugees and also help countries like Jordan, whose resources and infrastructure have been strained.”

As for Haj Ali, he aspires to be a professional goalkeeper one day.

“I wish I could be back in Syria, playing football in peace and joining the national team.”