From Ghassan Sarkis to Joe Moujaes, Fouad Abou Chakra and others, these basketball coaches all have baldness in common.
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Lebanese basketball is currently experiencing a golden age for the first time since the 1990s. Indeed, Lebanese basketball has managed to qualify three national teams to the Basketball World Cup. Firstly, the U16s, who took part in last year’s World Cup in Spain; secondly, the U19s, who will compete in their category’s World Cup at the end of this month in Hungary; and finally, the first team, which will compete in the World Championships in Indonesia (where Lebanon will play its first-round matches), Japan and the Philippines from August 25 to September 10. These three joint successes are a first in the history of Lebanese basketball. As for the women’s national team, it qualified for the Asian championships to be held in Australia at the end of June, after winning the B level of the Asian championships and returning to the elite zone.
The Lebanese Basketball Federation has certainly contributed to the success of the national teams, keeping in mind the leading role played by Lebanese coaches in the sporting success of the national team and of Lebanese clubs. In addition to their great success with Lebanese clubs, the coaches are now being sought after by Arab clubs, who are fiercely competing for the services of Lebanese coaches.
Today, we are going to take a look at the subject of bald Lebanese coaches. Several leading Lebanese coaches are, in fact, bald. Here’s an overview of some of the best-known coaches:
Ghassan Sarkis, who is in his sixties, is the oldest bald Lebanese coach. He has achieved numerous successes with the national teams and clubs he has coached since the 1980s. His greatest achievements were undoubtedly with La Sagesse at the regional and Asian level. In addition to La Sagesse, Sarkis has coached Riyadi, Kahraba, Champville, Amal Bickfaya, and other clubs. He has also coached numerous Arab clubs and will coach La Sagesse again for the 2023-2024 season.
The second coach is Fouad Abou Chacra, who is in his fifties and is also bald. He has coached the Lebanese national team as well as numerous Lebanese clubs such as Rosaire, Café Najjar, Champville, Sporting and others. Abou Chacra has also managed numerous Arab clubs.
The third leading bald coach is Joe Moujaes, who is in his forties and has coached the senior and junior national teams once, as well as many Lebanese clubs such as Champville and Homenetmen. Moujaes will coach Homenetmen next season, having previously led the team to the Lebanese league title in 2018.
As for Riyadi’s current coach, Ahmad Farran, he is also bald and has coached Beirut Club during his career. Farran will continue to coach Riyadi next season, a club with which he has won numerous local, regional, and international titles. Farran has never coached the national team, but may do so in the future. In the past, he has coached a Kuwaiti club.
Let’s not forget bald coach Marwan Khalil, who has coached numerous Lebanese clubs such as Beirut Club, Champville and Homenetmen, as well as a Bahraini club.
Sabah Khoury, who is also bald, is a new coach making a name for himself. Khoury is a former Lebanese international who coached Antranik last season and will coach Champville next season. During his playing career, Khoury was renowned for his three-point shooting with the national team and La Sagesse. Of all the bald coaches mentioned, Khoury is the only one to have played for the Lebanese national team.
Let’s not forget former Beirut Club coach Ahmad Yamout, who is also bald.
In addition to these leading bald coaches, Riyadi women’s coaches Georges Akiki and Dikran Kyokjian are also bald.
In addition to the bald Lebanese coaches, it is notable to mention the coach of the Lebanese national team at the 2010 World Cup, the American-New Zealander Thomas Boldwin, and the Serbian coach Tony Vujanic, who has coached numerous Lebanese clubs, as well as his compatriot Nenad Kirzic, who has also coached Lebanese clubs, including La Sagesse.
