The Efforts of Nadim Al-Hakim and the Players' Achievements

Following the victory of Beirut Club in the basketball championship, journalist Ismail Haidar wrote in congratulations: "Beirut Club is the champion of the Arab clubs in basketball. Beirut Club lifts the suffering from the shoulders of the Lebanese, bringing them joy like never before, dispelling their sorrows and granting them a glimmer of hope. Beirut, oh Beirut, mother of the world, whoever carries your name glorifies you. We acknowledge before the one God that you are the bride of the sea, and your cherished club bears your logo in which you surpass all others and stands on the Arab podium as the champion of the clubs. Whatever we say about Beirut Club is little for a club that carries so much, under a president like rarely seen in the sports scene and with players who have proven their capability over two weeks, confirming that Beirut and Lebanon are too great to be shaken by tragedy or overwhelmed by calamity. It is Nadim Al-Hakim, the president who revived a club that brings together all sects and communities, outperforming himself with the wisdom of a man who fears no defeat, creating a marvel from nothing. Al-Hakim transformed his club into an institution capable of giving and achieving victories. Within five years, this man succeeded in moving the club from a local neighborhood status to an immediate representative of Lebanon in significant events. Yesterday, Nadim Al-Hakim accomplished an important matter by securing Emirates Airlines as the club's sponsor, making it one of ten clubs worldwide receiving sponsorship from this company, and today the team shines in Qatar against giant teams, snatching the Arab championship title from the clutches of giants. Presenting the honoring cloak to the guest signifies the respect and appreciation for the man who deserves it. I don't want to talk about a celebrated match but rather about the historic Lebanese achievement recorded in the name of Beirut Club and the dedication of the wonderful president, Nadim Al-Hakim. One could attribute all the admirable qualities to this man and his club, but we must not forget the remarkable players who played their pioneering roles to perfection. We should pay attention to a player like no other seen on Lebanese courts, Ali Mazhar, an exemplary distributor unlike any clubs have produced, with his defense, fitness, and smart passes—truly the "computer" of Lebanese basketball. Today, we discover Sergio Darwish with his astonishing skill and substantial scoring in the championship, a capable artist who maneuvers and reaches the basket in the easiest ways, and it is enough that he was crowned the best player in the tournament. Ali Haidar may be the balance of the team between seriousness and play, and there is Dandash and Jaroush, known for his three-pointers, along with all the players who wrote heroic epics in Doha. Beirut succeeded in overcoming the strongest teams in Arab and African countries, one of which was the formidable Al-Ahly of Egypt and the champion of last year's edition, Kuwait, among other Arab teams, with the Lebanese spirit of determination and the guidance of Nadim Al-Hakim and the genius of the esteemed coach Joe Ghattas. Congratulations to Beirut Club and to Lebanon for this achievement, as we endure the struggles of daily life and what is happening in the south, living on tense nerves, while relief comes from Beirut, the mother of the world, and its champion club." By journalist Ismail Haidar.