Footballer Survives Mosque Tragedy, Returns Home Stronger

Haris Zeb was supposed to be inside the Al Noor mosque on March 15, 2019, when a gunman opened fire during Friday prayers. Running late that day saved his life, but he lost friends and community members in the attack that claimed 51 lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The tragedy still weighs on him. "It's something I think about most days," says Zeb, now 24.

But instead of letting grief derail his dreams, the footballer channeled his pain into purpose. He's returned to his hometown to play for South Island United in the Oceania Pro League while living with his parents, who emigrated from Pakistan in the 1990s.

His journey back wasn't easy. Since 2021, Zeb broke the same bone in his foot five times, requiring two surgeries. The second operation involved transferring bone from his heel to repair the fracture, followed by months of nerve damage recovery.

"It was a big psychological battle," Zeb admits. "You're scared of every little knock." He seriously considered abandoning football and moving to Australia with friends.

His father and coach Paul Ifill convinced him to stay the course. That perseverance paid off spectacularly when Zeb made his international debut for Pakistan last year, playing to a 0-0 draw against Afghanistan at Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad.

Why This Inspires

Zeb's comeback story resonates beyond the pitch. In Auckland, he started a Muslim football academy before his move. Now in Christchurch, he's launched a similar program at Avonhead Park, working with young players from Afghanistan and Somalia who are navigating their own journeys as immigrants and refugees.

For Zeb, returning to the mosque still brings tension that may never fully fade. But he finds comfort in his faith and in bringing his community together through sport, the same way Christchurch rallied around its Muslim residents after the attacks.

His message to young players facing their own struggles reflects what he learned from surviving tragedy and injury: keep showing up, even when it's hard. The 24-year-old who once witnessed unthinkable violence now creates safe spaces where immigrant children can play, belong, and dream.

Saturday marks the start of South Island United's season, and Zeb will take the field knowing that every match is a gift.