Giants teenager Haneen Zreika inspirational after Christchurch terrorist attack
She considered not even taking the field in the wake of the Christchurch terrorist attack, but Haneen Zreika knew she had to try to inspire others
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IT was only six weeks ago that Haneen Zreika made her debut in the AFLW.
She was the first Muslim player in the women’s competition and when she took to the field for GWS Giants’ final game last Friday night, it was with heaviness in her heart.
A black armband acknowledged the Muslim lives lost in the terrorist attack in Christchurch that day and Zreika, at just 19 years old, was firmly in the spotlight.
She had considered not playing that night, but instead ran out onto Manuka Oval, kicked her first goal and earned herself a Rising Star nomination for the round.
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“It is overwhelming. From Friday night’s game and then getting this Rising Star, I think it’s been a lot,” Zreika said.
“I saw all this stuff on social media and I was like, ‘What has just happened?’ Then I realised what this guy did. People had lost their lives in Christchurch and I was heartbroken.
“I had a mindset of ‘I don’t know if I want to play’, then I was speaking to a friend of mine and she told me that I need to play. I need to inspire people and I need to show them there was a view of hope, in a dark day there’s a bit of hope. What they’re going through right now, I should play to inspire.
“That changed my mindset. I changed my mindset to, I have to play, to play for them and not just for me.”
Zreika is not shying away from her place in the game now.
Not only is she a role model in her Muslim community, but to everyone. She is grateful for the opportunities sport has given her and hopes she can inspire others to chase their dreams too.
“It makes me feel like I can help people,” she said.
“I love to pay it forward to others. I’ve had so much support with AFL and everything in my life, I think paying it forward is something that I really admire and really live by.
“I think being a role model is something that I take seriously and honour.”
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Zreika is also optimistic that people can live together and not be divided by things like race and religion.
“The response after everyone was seeing stuff on social media, there was a bit of positives, everyone was coming together,” Zreika said.
“On Friday night they had a prayer at the mosque in Sydney and they didn’t just have Muslims there, they had Christians, they had Greeks, everyone came together and showed their support, which I think is so beautiful.
“I think banding together as one, no matter what you are, is a big thing.”
Friday was Zreika’s and the Giants’ final game of 2019 after they finished third in Conference B on eight points.
A talented sportsperson in a number of fields, Zreika is now considering playing the NSW women’s premiership in rugby league and may even consider trying for NRLW later in the year.
Long-term, though, AFL is the winner.
“I’ll play a bit of league, but AFL has won my heart. My number one sport now is AFL and I will pretty much choose that over anything,” Zreika said.
“(NRLW and AFL) don’t clash and I think I could do it if I wanted to but it’s something to think about. Do I really want to do two sports?
“I think I’ll play the Harvey Norman and I’ll see from there.”
Originally published as Giants teenager Haneen Zreika inspirational after Christchurch terrorist attack
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