Abd Elrahman Maneef .... by

Abd El Rahman Maneef was born on the 10th of August, 1995, in Daraa, Syria. He was raised in a family of doctors; his father was a surgeon, and his mother specialized in gynecology. Abd had a passion for soccer from his childhood, and he spent most of his free time on the pitch playing with his friends. However, his life took an unexpected turn when the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011.

Abd's family was forced to flee Daraa due to the intensifying conflicts in the region. They settled in a small town near Damascus, where they lived in extremely challenging conditions. Amid the chaos and instability, soccer became Abd's greatest solace. He assembled a group of boys from the neighborhood, and they started playing soccer in abandoned lots and in the streets.

Despite the turmoil around him, Abd continued to excel in soccer. At the age of 16, he was scouted by a local soccer club, and he joined their team. However, in 2014, the club was shut down due to the war, and Abd's dreams of a career in soccer came to an abrupt halt.

Determined to make something of himself, Abd started searching for other opportunities. In 2015, he heard about a soccer team for refugees called "Hope for Syrian Children." The team was formed by a British charity called "Moving Mountains" that aimed to help Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Abd immediately applied and was selected to join the team. He traveled to Lebanon and joined the "Hope for Syrian Children" soccer team, where he trained hard and played in various matches.

Abd became a prominent member of the team and was soon selected to represent the team in a tournament in the UK. He traveled to the UK with the team, where they played against other refugee teams. Despite the difficult circumstances, Abd and his team won the tournament. The victory allowed Abd to further his soccer career, and he was scouted by a local club in the UK.

Today, Abd is playing for a professional soccer team in the UK, and he has even played for the Syrian national team. He has become an inspiration to many young refugees around the world who, like him, have faced unimaginable hardship.

Abd's story is a reminder that despite the challenges and difficulties, it is possible to achieve your dreams. His resilience, perseverance, and passion for soccer enabled him to carve out a successful career for himself, inspiring many others in the process. His story also highlights the importance of programs that offer opportunities to refugees, such as the "Hope for Syrian Children" team that gave Abd a chance to pursue his dream. As the world continues to grapple with the refugee crisis, the stories of people like Abd El Rahman Maneef remind us of the strength of the human spirit and the power of sports to bring people together, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances.