الجامعة الأنطونية واتحاد السلة يطلقان أول شهادة جامعية للمدربين في الشرق الأوسط

In an unprecedented move aimed at developing the sports training sector in Lebanon and the region, Antonine University and the Lebanese Basketball Federation launched the first university degree specializing in basketball training, during an official ceremony held at the university’s main campus in Baabda-Hadath.

The ceremony was attended by prominent sports and academic figures, including MP Ghassan Atallah, a member of the Parliamentary Youth and Sports Committee, and Akram Halabi, President of the Lebanese Basketball Federation, in addition to a number of heads of sports federations, coaches, players and media personnel.

The ceremony began with the Lebanese national anthem, followed by a video presentation about the Faculty of Sports Sciences at Antonine University. University President Father Michel Saghbini then delivered a speech emphasizing the university's leading role in the field of sports and stressing the importance of the new degree in training a new generation of coaches who combine academic foundations with practical experience. Father Saghbini explained that the program aims to transform a passion for basketball into a professional opportunity, thereby enhancing the technical level of the game nationally.

For his part, the Federation President, Akram Halabi, praised the initiative, considering it a long-awaited step towards achieving a qualitative leap in the sports training system. Halabi emphasized that the Lebanese Basketball Federation places great importance on coach training, noting that the cooperation with Antonine University comes within the framework of developing the game at both the local and international levels. He also addressed some of the challenges facing Lebanese sports, warning against attempts to control the sports sector through illegitimate federations and clubs.

The ceremony concluded with a panel discussion moderated by journalist Fares Karam, in which a number of federation officials and basketball coaches participated. The discussion addressed the developmental vision for Lebanese basketball, the challenges facing the transition to professionalism, and the efforts made to expand the base of referee training and qualify more referees and administrators.

Launching this certification is a key step towards enhancing professionalism in sports training, which will contribute to raising the level of Lebanese basketball and preparing qualified personnel capable of competing in regional and international arenas.