Salah

Several times a week, Salah voluntarily drives the van back and forth across the Walloon Brabant province to fetch the kids at the Fedasil centre in Rixensart as well as stopping in Wavre to pick up Ramzan from his mother’s house. He also drives the boys from Woluwé-Saint-Pierre. The goal being to allow them to reach Kraainem FC in all safety. Identity controls, travel fees, unknown territories; getting around without the sufficient paperwork is far from easy. « Some of them aren’t in contact with their parents anymore, they came alone. Living at the centre clearly is the best part for them. When they talk about their journey here, it’s awful. After two weeks, I said I couldn’t go on driving them because it became too emotional for me. », he says behind the wheel.
But Salah decided to continue and invests himself in this role to the fullest. On the road and at the club, he tries his best to bring a little light to the atmosphere, by encouraging the kids and youngsters. « At home, I have four little sisters; the kids here, they are my little brothers. »

In the van, the temporary calmness has already dissipated. Rememorating the training session, they discuss the various passes and speed exercises. « Run Ramzan, run », the voice of coach Randy still resonates …

In the backseat, the excitement has reached its climax, with juice cartons falling over, biscuit crumbs spreading on the seats and jokes that leaves everyone in stitches. To calm the kids down a bit, Salah has an idea, « We’re going to play the king of silence, first one to talk loses. » After several minutes, one of the children exclaims : « I’ve been asking myself, when it is night-time, where does the sun go ? » The lively discussion resumes, the topic this time around being light, sunrise and the origins of life. Salah smiles, hands on the steering wheel and an eye constantly on the rear-view mirror. In the back, the jokes just keep coming, suppressed laughter can be heard and the excitement bumps up to another level again. The driver raises his voice and the youngsters understand that they can’t cross the line anymore. Everyone has their place in the van, which acts as the link between two worlds.

We arrive in Rixensart, where Félix, Orphée and Mahan get off. Presently, we’re heading towards Wavre to drop off Ramzan. Salah is beginning to know him quite well and, ever so slightly, watches over him. « The other day, I saw him doing an Instagram Live at 11pm so I told him to get to bed to be in shape for school ! »

We have arrived. The young player meets up with his mother Milena. Hand on her heart, she confides : « I’m a little shy and don’t dare say it to Salah, but these journeys in the van have been helping me a lot »