Anwar Club won the 2023 Lebanese Volleyball Championship following a thrilling final series that ended with a 3-2 victory over Speedball. However, the last match of the final was marred by a series of unfortunate incidents.
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Astute observers of the Lebanese Volleyball Championship unanimously agreed that Anwar Club brought a distinct flavor to the championship this year, ultimately winning their fifth title. The clear favorite in this season’s competition was Speedball (Chekka), having won four consecutive Lebanese championships.
However, Anwar sprang a surprise by finishing second in the regular season, qualifying for the semi-finals. The club subsequently qualified for the final, which it claimed with a 3-2 victory, after an electric series that thrilled Lebanese residents and fans around the world.
Several issues arose during the final, including the interruption of the fifth match of the series after supporters invaded the pitch at the Hamat club stadium (Batroun), prompting international referee Hanna Zeilaa to stop the match and the Lebanese Volleyball Federation to postpone it.
Anwar were crowned champions after the completion of the fifth match, held at the Emile Lahoud stadium in Dekwaneh-Mar Roukoz without an audience. The stadium witnessed jubilant celebrations from Anwar’s team. Club president Georges Yazbeck was delighted with the new title, which was achieved through the reinforcement of the team with experienced international players such as “Maestro” and playmaker Wissam el-Hosri, who played a key role in the team’s success.
Anwar successfully built a competitive team on all fronts to be able to win the fifth title and to bring the title back to Metn-North after northern teams had dominated the championship for many years via Speedball Chekka and Zahraa Mina.
Georges Yazbeck, known for his tactical and technical understanding of the sport, gave the tactical and technical reins of the team to coach Zahi Nemer, who brilliantly led a team mainly composed of players Wissam el-Hosri, Pierre Fares, Rawad el-Hassan, Mohamed el-Hage, Joseph Nohra and libero Mikhaël el-Ahmar, among others. The title brought great joy to the people of Jdeideh, Bauchrieh and Sad in particular, and to the people of Metn-North in general.
Anwar’s triumph surprised many, as the championship title seemed destined for the strong favorite, Speedball. The latter made an impressive start to the championship, beating Noujoum (Jounieh) in Hamat. Noujoum battled for a long time to qualify for the semi-finals against Chabab el-Batroun and the Army, who ended up emerging as the qualifiers.
Many observers had predicted a 3-0 victory for Speedball in the final, but Anwar defied expectations with their resolute mindset under the guidance of Georges Yazbeck and his team. Physical preparation was also optimal, as coach Alain Bejjani started training the team two months before the start of the championship.
Of note, the relationship between the two finalist clubs deteriorated [during the last match], as a stream of invective was let out via the media amid rumors of possible Speedball action in the coming days.
Looking ahead, Anwar is now focused on the next season, which promises to be even more captivating for the general public due to the return of foreign players to the clubs’ rosters.
The upcoming season will also be enriched by the return to the elite of Lebanese second-division champions Blat and Machaal Kousba, two clubs with a strong grassroots foundation that can compete with the best. What’s more, these two clubs have two presidents who are passionate about the sport, competent and moderate managers, namely Michel Farah and Dr. Elie Moussa.
Congratulations to Anwar on their championship triumph, and hard luck to Speedball, in the hopes that this great northern club, with its many historic sporting achievements, will take measures to ease tensions.
