- 21
- Feb.
- 2025
Antonine University and the Lebanese Basketball Federation take a historic step by launching a university degree for coaches. The first of its kind in the Middle East, aimed at further professionalizing Lebanese basketball.
Antonine University and the Lebanese Basketball Federation (LBF) have inaugurated a university degree program for basketball coaches, a first of its kind in the Middle East. The ceremony took place at the university’s main campus in Baabda-Hadath, in the presence of leading sports and academic figures.
A Structured Academic Program
Father Michel Saghbini, the President of Antonine University, emphasized that this program builds on a 50-year sporting legacy. “Training is not limited to technical skills; it also aims to instill values of ethics, respect and professionalism,” he stated. He highlighted the university’s key role in structuring the sector and creating new career opportunities for basketball enthusiasts.
The Vision of the Lebanese Federation
Akram Halabi, the President of the LBF, described this initiative as “a dream come true,” recalling that Lebanese basketball shines internationally thanks to its teams and clubs. “We have always focused on training coaches, but a structured academic framework was missing,” he affirmed. He also denounced attempts by some actors to take control of the sport through parallel structures, stating, “We want to advance basketball, and those trying to manipulate it will fail.”
Discussions and Perspectives
During a roundtable moderated by journalist Fares Karam, several experts spoke. Charbel Michel Rizk, the Secretary-General of the West Asian Federation, highlighted Lebanon’s shift toward more professional sports management, particularly through referee training and a significant increase in organized games each year.
Jihad Saliba, the program coordinator and President of the Federation’s Coaches Academy, stressed that “this university degree is the first of its kind in the Middle East and will offer Lebanese coaches the opportunity to work abroad, particularly in Arab countries.” He specified that registration will open in March, with classes set to begin in April.
National team head coach Joe Moujaes, for his part, reminded the audience that “coaching has become a science and an academic discipline that starts from the very first stages of basketball initiation.”
A Turning Point for Basketball
The ceremony concluded with the signing of an agreement between the university and the LBF, followed by an exchange of symbolic gifts. This partnership marks a significant step forward for Lebanese basketball, enhancing training and structuring the sector to ensure a more ambitious and professional future for this emblematic sport in the country.
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