In a massive sports and public celebration, the Central School Club – Jounieh received the stars of its basketball team for the 2025-2026 season in its closed sports hall, in the presence of school students, friends of the club, and a group of official and sports figures, sponsors, press personnel, and the media.
The audience was attended by the president of the club, Father Elie Saadeh, the audience of school parents, the two representatives of Keserwan, Sheikh Farid Al-Khazen and the representative, Neama Afram, the president of the Lebanese Basketball Federation, Mr. Akram Al-Halabi, its general secretary, lawyer Charbel Michel Rizk, the mayor of Jounieh, Engineer Faisal Ephrem, his deputy, Sheikh Rashid Al-Khazen (Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Central Club), and His Excellency Consul Jacques Hakim (President of the Keserwan Chamber of Commerce – Al-Futuh), in addition to professors: Tony Seif, Joseph Saadeh, Roger Abi Habla, Charbel Abi Raad, Mr. Patrick Karam, Mr. Anthony Younes, Rudolph Abi Nakhoul, Roy Bou Maroun, Youssef Al-Khoury, Marie-France Group, INDEVCO Group, in addition to members of the Administrative Committee of the Central Club, the Club’s Board of Trustees, club presidents, family, friends, and veterans.
Team launch
Sports journalist Anthony Majdalani presented the ceremony amid an enthusiastic atmosphere that included shouts, chants, and firecrackers, and the entry of the team members individually, where the team’s stars for the new season were announced, accompanied by motivational comments for each player, and they are in no order:
Kanye Wooten – Don’t McGill – Aniori Castillo – Ghassan Salem – Mathieu Khoury –
Mark Kayal – Anthony Nabaa – Lucas Saleh – Jihad Al-Khatib – Elios Saad – Jay Khalil – Carl Fenianos – Matthew Khoury.
This is under the supervision of national coach Marwan Khalil and his assistant, Sina Esfandiarpour, Elie Salama, technical director, Charbel Abi Rashed, team manager, Razmik Bogekian, physical therapist, and Jean-Pierre Hanna, fitness coach.
Public interaction
After the team parade, the stars interacted with the attendees, souvenir photos were taken, and the players signed autographs for the fans, in a scene that reflected the family spirit and deep belonging between the club and its fans.
A word from the club president
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Father Elie Saadeh delivered a speech in which he saluted the team’s players, emphasizing the identity of the Monastic Central Club, its location in the heart of the city of Jounieh – the capital of Keserwan, and its constant openness to cooperation with the municipality and supporting sectors.
He said in his speech:
“No star shines alone. Sport is education before it is competition. We have the right to aspire, because basketball is not just a game, but a way of life. A successful team is one that plays with its heart before its hands.”
It is a moment in which we witness the fruit of continuous work, serious planning, and the sacrifices made by everyone – from management, technical staff, players, supporters, and fans – in order for the Central School Club to have a competitive team that honors its history and raises its name high.
We do not participate just for the sake of participating, but rather we have great ambition, a deep belief in the abilities of our players, both young and experienced, and absolute confidence in the technical staff that leads the team efficiently.
We promise the Central fans in the city of Jounieh, and our monastic mother, that we will play in a fighting spirit, with all respect for the rules of the game, and we will strive to write together a new success story, to be added to the record of this ancient sporting and educational edifice. The Father President thanked the President of the Lebanese Basketball Federation, Mr. Akram Al-Halabi, for his achievements and efforts in sponsoring the game, especially since President Al-Halabi is the Central Club’s candidate for the presidency of the federation. It is a matter of pride.
Speech by Sheikh Rashid Al-Khazen
Sheikh Rashid Al-Khazen addressed the audience in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Central Club and called on them to believe in the team’s capabilities and to accompany and encourage it, noting the movement of the club president, Father Elie Saadeh, and thanking all the sponsors and supporters of the Central, monastic and Jounieh orders.
The ceremony concluded by inviting attendees to a luncheon held in honor of the occasion and its supporters, in a festive atmosphere that reflects the cohesion between the club and the local community.
