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Lajee Celtic was invited to participate in various sporting, educational and cultural activities across South Africa.
By SABEELA HENDRICKS
THE Palestinian football club, ‘Lajee Celtic,’ stands as a beacon of hope and form of inspiration for all young people chasing big dreams. The club’s dual name consists of the Arabic word for ‘refugee’ and a cultural component that symbolises the international support of the Celtic community.
In 1950, ‘Aida Refugee Camp’ was first established by the UN as a temporary tent city for Palestinian refugees who fled their homes during the 1948 Nakba. The tents were in existence for nine years before small concrete structures were built for residents in 1959.
Located between the municipalities of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Jerusalem, Aida camp is partially surrounded by the West Bank Barrier, isolating the camp from surrounding recreational areas that were once available to residents. Over the last 74 years, the residents from the community have responded by organising recreational spaces along the border of the camp, including a playground, garden and a soccer field.
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In April 2000, the ‘Lajee Centre’ was founded by a group of 11 young people residing in the Aida Camp. This community-based centre has become a creative and cultural space for various generations to voice their ongoing fight for Palestinian liberation. The organisation states that its main aim is to ‘provide refugee youth and women with cultural, educational, social, and developmental opportunities’ through running programs that focus on attending to the needs and skills of all its community members.
It is in this environment that the football club ‘Aida Celtic’ (now known as Lajee Celtic) was officially established in 2019 through the joint efforts of the Lajee Center and members of a left-wing Celtic fan group, ‘The Green Brigade’ (TGB). Upon Lajee Celtic’s inception, the role of politics within football became increasingly apparent. While the club promotes the growth of young Palestinian footballers through giving them the opportunity to pursue their dreams through travel, the club also prides itself in educating people about their country’s struggle for justice.
Through the collaborative help of organisations like Football 4 Humanity (F4H), Sports Stepping Stone (SSS), Africa 4 Palestine (A4P), and The Green Brigade (TGB), ‘Aida to Africa’ was established as an international solidarity event, and a means through which Lajee Celtic was invited to participate in various sporting, educational and cultural activities across South Africa. The tour started in Johannesburg with Lajee Celtic setting the record as the first Palestinian team to play in the city. COO and project manager of F4H, Noore Nacerodien, emphasises that South Africa has had a ‘longstanding relationship with Palestine for many years’ and that the ‘[Aida Tour] can be seen as a way to strengthen the existing bond between the two nations.’ Lajee Celtic player, Edrees Hashim, confirms this by mentioning that ‘the [South African] people have been very good to [them]’ and that they share a level of ‘love and respect’ for one another.
In the last leg of the South African tour, Lajee Celtic played their final game against Cape Town’s Garlandale FC on Sunday, July 07, 2024. Despite language barriers, the two teams were united through their overwhelming love for sport. Through Cape Town’s tumultuous weather, both teams were determined to play, with Lajee Celtic expressing their desire to go through with the game ‘even if it snows.’ After four friendly football matches at the Oasis Business Park in Schaapkraal, the evening was filled with good food and a social atmosphere. Thereafter, the captains of each team exchanged words of gratitude, and the night ended in the singing and dancing of traditional Palestinian music.
