Representative Tony Franjieh and the President of the Lebanese Football Association, Hashem Haidar, inspected the Zgharta Sports Complex (Al-Salam Zgharta Stadium), which is being rehabilitated by the Lebanese Football Association funded by the International Football Association (FIFA) within the FIFA GOAL project, in the presence of the President of the Salam Zgharta Club, Monsignor Stephan Franjieh, Head of the North Governorate Clubs Association Haitham Nahle, Secretary General of the Federation Jihad Al-Shahf, head of the Referees Committee and member of the Federation Mahmoud Al-Rabaa.
After a tour around the stadium on the green artificial grass, Representative Franjieh said: “We in Zgharta and the North were raised on sports and on the idea of the Salam Zgharta Club, which is part of our strength and our adherence to sports and football, and the importance and beauty of sports, but it carries many other meanings, this stadium It embodies the identity and strength of this region, and is also the link and link between the public, the people and the sport, and we all as officials must stand by the club and the team.”
He thanked “the club’s management and president for the effort they are making, especially in recent years, and despite the difficult circumstances, they were able to overcome this difficult stage, so that peace will return in the new stage, and we hope to see it better and competing strongly for the championship as it was in the past, because the importance of sports in our region.” Far beyond a hobby or pastime, it is a foundation in our society.”
He added: “We have never given up on the club, and we are constantly ready to support. We, our representatives and friends, are always ready to support the club, and we are committed to it, and we hope to see it at the forefront, and we will not forget the role of expatriates in rehabilitating the stadium, which is the second time it has been done.” Rehabilitating him with artificial turf, for the first time was with the support of the expatriate community, especially in Venezuela, and here I mention the late Yvonne Sayegh, the supporters in Australia and the residents in Lebanon.”
He concluded: “I will endeavor, if my circumstances permit, to be with the club in its upcoming matches, but the important thing is that peace be one of the strong and top competitors in the next tournament.”
Haider
As for Haidar, he said: “In two weeks, the stadium will be ready to receive the league championship, and today we are on an inspection visit to see the works, the good implementation, and within the framework of the projects carried out by the Federation, and there are dozens of similar projects, and a plan to spread and rehabilitate stadiums in all Lebanese regions, This issue helps the clubs in spreading the football culture in Lebanon.”
He pointed out that “this project was launched decades ago and will continue, and we hope to establish stadiums in all disadvantaged areas where there are no stadiums, such as the Akkar region in particular. The conditions that Lebanon is going through have reduced this support, and we hope that the situation will return well and we will return to the way we were.”
He pointed out that “the ticket prices are not an obstacle to the public, but the most important thing in the matter when we talk regarding the fans is their discipline while they are inside the stadiums, which allows them to continue watching the matches, otherwise they will expose themselves to penalties and prevent them from attending.”
