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Rising Star of Syrian Soccer Tells of Perilous Escape From Civil War Rising Star of Syrian Soccer Tells of Perilous Escape From Civil War
(1 day later)
OBERSTAUFEN, Germany — Mohammed Jaddou performs a special trick when the ball is at his feet. On the training field of F.V. Ravensburg, a team that plays in the fifth tier of German soccer, Jaddou, the captain of Syria’s under-16 national team, flicks the ball deftly to his chest, rolling it perfectly up on to his face. OBERSTAUFEN, Germany — Mohammed Jaddou performs a special trick when the ball is at his feet. On the training field of F.V. Ravensburg, a team that plays in the fifth tier of German soccer, Jaddou, the captain of Syria’s under-16 national team, flicks the ball deftly to his chest, rolling it perfectly up onto his face.
He balances the ball on his lips and kisses it before rolling it back down his body and onto his feet, breaking into a smile reminiscent of that of his hero, Cristiano Ronaldo.He balances the ball on his lips and kisses it before rolling it back down his body and onto his feet, breaking into a smile reminiscent of that of his hero, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Then Jaddou, 17, repeats the trick, kissing the ball over and over again. Each time, he smiles to himself as the ball rolls back to his feet, as if each trick and each kiss were his first.Then Jaddou, 17, repeats the trick, kissing the ball over and over again. Each time, he smiles to himself as the ball rolls back to his feet, as if each trick and each kiss were his first.
Jaddou is not just the rising star of Syrian soccer; he is one of the brightest prospects in Asia. His performances as the team’s captain helped Syria reach the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation’s under-16 championship last year in Thailand.Jaddou is not just the rising star of Syrian soccer; he is one of the brightest prospects in Asia. His performances as the team’s captain helped Syria reach the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation’s under-16 championship last year in Thailand.
That finish — with Syria deeply embroiled in a civil war that has, as of December, according to the United Nations, displaced about 11.6 million people since 2011 — qualified the country for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, which will be held in Chile later this year. That finish — with Syria deeply embroiled in a civil war that has, as of December, according to the United Nations, displaced about 11.6 million people since 2011 — qualified the country for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, which will be held in Chile this year.
But Jaddou will not represent Syria at the tournament, which in past years has showcased the likes of Landon Donovan, Cesc Fàbregas and Toni Kroos as stars of the future. Jaddou gave up that dream and is now a refugee, training in a quiet town near Lake Constance after a frightening 3,500-mile journey across land and sea to escape the war.But Jaddou will not represent Syria at the tournament, which in past years has showcased the likes of Landon Donovan, Cesc Fàbregas and Toni Kroos as stars of the future. Jaddou gave up that dream and is now a refugee, training in a quiet town near Lake Constance after a frightening 3,500-mile journey across land and sea to escape the war.
“I won’t be able to forget it no matter how hard I try,” Jaddou said of the two-month journey that nearly cost him his life. “We saw death with our own eyes.”“I won’t be able to forget it no matter how hard I try,” Jaddou said of the two-month journey that nearly cost him his life. “We saw death with our own eyes.”
A Decision to Leave
Earlier that day, Jaddou was sitting in the kitchen of a modest house in this tiny Bavarian hamlet near the Austrian and Swiss borders, an area famed for its hills, pine forests and hiking trails. He is living here temporarily with his father, Bilal, and his uncle Zakaria, along with three other Syrians who survived similarly perilous journeys.Earlier that day, Jaddou was sitting in the kitchen of a modest house in this tiny Bavarian hamlet near the Austrian and Swiss borders, an area famed for its hills, pine forests and hiking trails. He is living here temporarily with his father, Bilal, and his uncle Zakaria, along with three other Syrians who survived similarly perilous journeys.
The six men have temporary asylum status, meaning that during the first three months of their stay they cannot leave the area without asking permission from the German authorities. Jaddou had to first seek official approval to train three evenings a week in Ravensburg, 30 miles away.The six men have temporary asylum status, meaning that during the first three months of their stay they cannot leave the area without asking permission from the German authorities. Jaddou had to first seek official approval to train three evenings a week in Ravensburg, 30 miles away.
There is little to do. The six cook with one another and go for walks. Zakaria spends hours breaking open cigarettes to remove the tobacco and rolling the contents into thinner smokes. “Tobacco is very, very expensive here,” he explained.There is little to do. The six cook with one another and go for walks. Zakaria spends hours breaking open cigarettes to remove the tobacco and rolling the contents into thinner smokes. “Tobacco is very, very expensive here,” he explained.
Jaddou grew up in the coastal city of Latakia, “the most beautiful city in the world,” he said with pride. By the time he was 8 years old, his talent had been spotted by his local club, Hutteen, which plays in the Syrian Premier League. His performances there earned him a call-up to Syria’s national youth system. Jaddou grew up in Latakia, “the most beautiful city in the world,” he said with pride. By the time he was 8, his talent had been spotted by his local club, Hutteen, which plays in the Syrian Premier League. His performances there earned him a call-up to Syria’s national youth system.
“I stopped giving my school much importance and only cared about playing football,” he said of the brief few years he remembers playing soccer before the civil war began. “I loved football more than I loved my parents.”“I stopped giving my school much importance and only cared about playing football,” he said of the brief few years he remembers playing soccer before the civil war began. “I loved football more than I loved my parents.”
As the war began to engulf the country, soccer was increasingly hard to play. Even though the Syrian Premier League has managed to continue, FIFA ruled that the country was too dangerous to host international games. Youth players like Jaddou had to travel from the coast to Damascus along a dangerous stretch of road that regularly changed hands between government forces and rebels. As the war began to engulf the country, soccer was increasingly hard to play. Though the Syrian Premier League has managed to continue, FIFA ruled that Syria was too dangerous to host international games. Youth players like Jaddou had to travel from the coast to Damascus along a dangerous stretch of road.
He said that his team bus was attacked twice and that rebel forces also threatened him for representing a national team that was seen as aligned with President Bashar al-Assad. (Jaddou’s description of events could not be independently verified by The New York Times.) He said that his team bus had been attacked twice and that rebel forces had also threatened him for representing a national team that was seen as aligned with President Bashar al-Assad. (Jaddou’s description of events could not be independently verified by The New York Times.)
“When leaving the training camp, I was threatened by death, threatened by getting sniped or being bombarded by a missile,” he said. “Our football field was also bombarded a couple of times, so we were threatened to die even when we were playing.”“When leaving the training camp, I was threatened by death, threatened by getting sniped or being bombarded by a missile,” he said. “Our football field was also bombarded a couple of times, so we were threatened to die even when we were playing.”
At first, Jaddou thought it was too dangerous even to travel to Damascus. “I was vulnerable to die at any moment on that road,” he said. But he also said that he could not live without soccer.At first, Jaddou thought it was too dangerous even to travel to Damascus. “I was vulnerable to die at any moment on that road,” he said. But he also said that he could not live without soccer.
By the time Syria’s team traveled to Thailand for the Asian under-16 championship, it had already lost one player to the war: 15-year-old Tarek Ghrair, Jaddou’s roommate and best friend, who was killed during a mortar attack in Homs.By the time Syria’s team traveled to Thailand for the Asian under-16 championship, it had already lost one player to the war: 15-year-old Tarek Ghrair, Jaddou’s roommate and best friend, who was killed during a mortar attack in Homs.
Jaddou keeps a picture of Ghrair’s mangled body on his cellphone. “I cried for two days,” he said. “He wasn’t a friend. He was a brother.” Jaddou keeps a picture of Ghrair’s mangled body on his cellphone. “I cried for two days,” he said.
Yet Jaddou excelled in Thailand, leading the team to the semifinals, which meant that it qualified for the Under-17 World Cup. Jaddou was suspended for the semifinal match against South Korea; Syria lost, 7-1.Yet Jaddou excelled in Thailand, leading the team to the semifinals, which meant that it qualified for the Under-17 World Cup. Jaddou was suspended for the semifinal match against South Korea; Syria lost, 7-1.
On his return, Jaddou decided that it was time for him to leave. He tried to fly to Germany, a country he had dreamed of playing in since he was a child, but he said he was told at the airport that the entire team was on a no-fly list. Syria’s national soccer association did not reply to requests for an interview. Upon his return, Jaddou decided that it was time for him to leave. He tried to fly to Germany, a country he had dreamed of playing in since he was a child, but he said he was told at the airport that the entire team was on a no-fly list. Syria’s national soccer association did not reply to requests for an interview.
It was then that Jaddou’s father sold his house, raising the $13,000 needed to pay smugglers to transport Jaddou and the others overland into Turkey and then by boat to Italy. According to the International Organization for Migration, almost 2,000 people have died in the first four months of this year trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea by boat. It was then that Jaddou’s father sold his house, raising the $13,000 needed to pay smugglers to transport Jaddou and the others overland into Turkey and then by boat to Italy. The International Organization for Migration said almost 2,000 people had died in the first four months of this year trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea by boat.
The 70-foot boat was overloaded, with more than 130 passengers — men and women, young and old, healthy and infirm — crammed onto the vessel. Six hours after the boat left the Turkish coast, it began to sink.The 70-foot boat was overloaded, with more than 130 passengers — men and women, young and old, healthy and infirm — crammed onto the vessel. Six hours after the boat left the Turkish coast, it began to sink.
“We had to throw everything away — food, clothes and belongings” — to keep the boat afloat, Jaddou said. The men and boys stayed awake to bail water with their hands. “Not even for a second were we able to sleep,” he added. “If we did, we would eventually drown.”“We had to throw everything away — food, clothes and belongings” — to keep the boat afloat, Jaddou said. The men and boys stayed awake to bail water with their hands. “Not even for a second were we able to sleep,” he added. “If we did, we would eventually drown.”
By the time the Italian military spotted the boat, without electricity or a working rudder, off the coast of Sicily, Jaddou had been at sea for five days and five sleepless nights. “That was the third time in which I was so close to die,” he said, “but I survived.”By the time the Italian military spotted the boat, without electricity or a working rudder, off the coast of Sicily, Jaddou had been at sea for five days and five sleepless nights. “That was the third time in which I was so close to die,” he said, “but I survived.”
Like the tens of thousands of migrants and refugees who have landed on Italian soil, Jaddou and his family were processed in a holding camp, fingerprinted and eventually allowed to leave. “We can see around 10,000 people a month arriving,” said Chiara Montaldo, who runs a Doctors Without Borders reception center in Sicily and was aware of Jaddou’s case. Like the tens of thousands of migrants and refugees who have landed on Italian soil, Jaddou and his family were processed in a holding camp, fingerprinted and eventually allowed to leave. “We can see around 10,000 people a month arriving,” said Chiara Montaldo, who runs a Doctors Without Borders reception center in Sicily and is aware of Jaddou’s case.
“He is young and had a brilliant future in his country,” she said, “but he had no choice other than to leave.”“He is young and had a brilliant future in his country,” she said, “but he had no choice other than to leave.”
Jaddou, his father and uncle traveled north through Italy, avoiding the police until they reached Milan. They slept at the city’s train station before giving the last of their money to a trafficker who agreed to drive them to a refugee center in Munich. From there, they were sent to their current quarters in the hills outside Oberstaufen.Jaddou, his father and uncle traveled north through Italy, avoiding the police until they reached Milan. They slept at the city’s train station before giving the last of their money to a trafficker who agreed to drive them to a refugee center in Munich. From there, they were sent to their current quarters in the hills outside Oberstaufen.
Training in Germany
When the daughter of Oberstaufen’s mayor heard that a young Syrian soccer player was living nearby, she contacted a former Croatian player she knew who owned a bar in town and who also worked as an agent. A few phone calls later, F.V. Ravensburg had invited Jaddou to training.When the daughter of Oberstaufen’s mayor heard that a young Syrian soccer player was living nearby, she contacted a former Croatian player she knew who owned a bar in town and who also worked as an agent. A few phone calls later, F.V. Ravensburg had invited Jaddou to training.
“We decided to invite him without knowing what to expect,” Markus Wolfangel, the coach of F.V. Ravensburg’s under-19 team, said as he watched Jaddou train last month. He said Jaddou surprised the coaches. “We decided to invite him without knowing what to expect,” Markus Wolfangel, the coach of F.V. Ravensburg’s under-19 team, said last month. He said Jaddou surprised the coaches.
“My players were even surprised,” Wolfangel said. “After 15 minutes, one player came to me and said: ‘We should take him for next season.’ ” “My players were even surprised,” Wolfangel said. “After 15 minutes, one player came to me and said, ‘We should take him for next season.’ ”
Jaddou speaks little German, so during training sessions it is not uncommon for one of his housemates to be summoned onto the field to translate instructions for certain drills. Several Bundesliga clubs have already expressed interest in seeing Jaddou play, but Wolfangel hopes he will choose to play in Ravensburg, at least for now. “We are convinced he will cause a lot of joy for us,” he said. Jaddou speaks little German, so during training sessions it is not uncommon for one of his housemates to be summoned onto the field to translate instructions for certain drills. Several Bundesliga clubs have already expressed interest in seeing Jaddou play, but Wolfangel hopes he will choose to play in Ravensburg, at least for now. “We are convinced he will cause a lot of joy for us,” Wolfangel said.
Until then, he will train. And wait. In a few months, Jaddou will have an asylum hearing to decide whether he can stay in Germany. He fears being sent back to Italy, where it could be harder to bring the family he has left behind. Jaddou’s mother and two brothers still live in Latakia. Until then, Jaddou will train. And wait. In a few months, he will have an asylum hearing to decide whether he can stay in Germany. He fears being sent back to Italy, where it could be harder to take the family he has left behind. Jaddou’s mother and two brothers still live in Latakia.
“I want to start as fast as possible so that I can take them away from that place filled with destruction, kidnapping and insults and bring them here to Germany where it is safe,” he said. “It’s probable that I hear of their death any minute now,” he added, expressing a persistent fear that because his “brothers are young, they could be kidnapped easily.”“I want to start as fast as possible so that I can take them away from that place filled with destruction, kidnapping and insults and bring them here to Germany where it is safe,” he said. “It’s probable that I hear of their death any minute now,” he added, expressing a persistent fear that because his “brothers are young, they could be kidnapped easily.”
With training finished for the day, Jaddou was the last player on the field, still with the ball at his feet. He flipped it to his chest, offered it a kiss and rolled it back to the turf. On the 45-minute drive back to his new home, he scrolled through his phone, past the pictures of Latakia, past the pictures of his family, past the body of his former teammate and the portraits of the Syrian team in Thailand last year. He stopped at pictures of Ronaldo, the player he hopes one day to meet and play against. With training finished for the day, Jaddou was the last player on the field, still with the ball at his feet. He flipped it to his chest, offered it a kiss and rolled it back to the turf. On the 45-minute drive back to his new home, he scrolled through his phone, past the pictures of Latakia, past the pictures of his family, past the body of his former teammate and the portraits of the Syrian team in Thailand last year. He stopped at pictures of Ronaldo, the player he hopes to one day meet and play against.
“If God has it written in my destiny,” he said before putting on his headphones to listen to the Arabic pop music that reminds him of home, “then I might even become better than him.”“If God has it written in my destiny,” he said before putting on his headphones to listen to the Arabic pop music that reminds him of home, “then I might even become better than him.”