By Noemi Jabois
Beirut, Oct 14 (EFE).- Just miles from Beirut’s bombed suburbs, a Spanish football coach defies danger, training Lebanese children and keeping their soccer dreams alive amid the chaos of war.
Barcelona native Paco Araujo battles the odds of war with unwavering passion, showcasing resilience shaped by 13 years in crisis-torn Lebanon.
“Four defenders against me, but it doesn’t matter! I’m Superman, I’m Messi,” Paco sarcastically chides one of the young players from the sidelines.
Paco never stops giving instructions, moving energetically from one side of the pitch to the other, clocking up to 30,000 steps in a single morning of training.
Paco arrived in Lebanon in 2011 to coach the national futsal team, a role he held until 2020 with some stints in Qatar, Kuwait, and Canada. Now, he trains more than 70 Lebanese children, guiding them in their football careers.
“Last Sunday, parents from the 2017 group called me, asking if there would be training. I thought, ‘How can there be training when there were bombs last night,’” Paco told EFE. “But when you see kids, 6 or 7 years old, and their parents bringing them with the motivation to carry on despite everything, I didn’t hesitate. I came.”
Staying Despite the Danger
When Spain sent planes to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon, Paco, a former national team coach, was resolute in his decision to stay, even as the intensifying Israeli bombing campaign, now three weeks old, brought hard moments.
“There were some tough nights, bombs, drones, explosions, and you start to wonder, ‘Did I make the right decision to stay?’”
Yet, for Paco to leave, conditions would have to be “very, very, very, very bad.” He feels deeply respected and appreciated by the families of the children he coaches.
The team now only trains at the Hazmieh camp on the outskirts of Beirut, as their other camp, near the heavily bombed Dahye suburbs, is no longer safe.
Training attendance has also dropped, with many families fleeing the country or relocating to safer areas, and others staying away out of fear. Despite these challenges, Paco remains motivated.
“I’ve learned resilience from the Lebanese people,” he says, reflecting on their ability to rise from the ashes after war, protests, economic crises, and the devastating 2020 Beirut explosion.
“They’ve shown me how to keep going through adversity, and I’ve adopted that mindset. If we can continue training with bombs just 4 or 5 km away, it’s because I’ve learned their spirit.”
Dreams and Gratitude
Some of the children ask Paco why it’s easier to succeed in football in Spain. He understands how the constant crises have affected them, from school to sports. Football competitions have been put on hold in Lebanon, and it’s uncertain when they will resume.
“But the kids keep going. They still have that hope and drive to become great players, to play for Barça, Madrid, or Atlético.”
With his perseverance, the Barcelona native not only helps the children get closer to those dreams but also provides them a sense of normality in the midst of war.
Mohammad Fajor, watching his son train from the bench, told EFE how sport helps children find “a bit” of normalcy while even schools remain closed.
“We’re so grateful Paco stayed when everyone else left. He was offered evacuation by the Spanish government, but he chose to stay and hasn’t missed a single session,” Fajor said.
Nazek Tabbara Abu Zaher, mother of another player, echoes the gratitude. Her child now travels half an hour by car after being displaced by the Israeli attacks.
“We don’t want to stop, even during war. We don’t want our children to feel unsafe or unwell. We hope for a better Lebanon,” she said. EFE
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