In the Knockout stage of the Lebanese Cup 2008/2009, Salam Zgharta lost against Tadamon Beirut on Friday, 26th December 2008. The game was decided on penalties, having ended at full time 0-0, with Salam losing 4-2.

Let's hope 2009 will see a reverse in Salam Zgharta's recent misfortunes.

Salam Zgharta issued a press release last Monday, 22nd December 2008, suggesting it is considering the postion of the Club's coach in light of the disappointing results so far this season.

It also talks about a new overseas player, whose signing was delayed at the beginning of the season due to registration problems, will be joining the team.

At the half way point of the 2008/2009 season, Salam is in 9th place with six points. Only two points sperate them with the botton team, which means there is a risk of relegation next season.

The press release covered by Lebanse Football. Com can be read from the below links:

Arabic

English - Google

What also has been disappointing is the Club's own website, www.salamzgharta.com, which has not been keep up todate with news or had its sections developed. One saving grace is the Club's Facebook Group , which sends frequent messages to its 830+ members.

This Sunday sees the last games of the Lebanese Football First Division of the year. Of the eleven teams in the First Division, Sunday sees four games which may decide whether Salam goes into next year in the feared bottom two places with the consequential risk of relegation at the end of the season.

Salam Zgharta will be playing today Al Ansar, who stand 4th in First Division.

Only two points separate Salam, who are in 9th place with six points, from Tadamon Sour (10th) and Shabad Al Ghazieh (11th) who are in the relegation zone, with 4 points each. Tadamon play today, Racing Beirut, who are in 8th place with eight points. If Tadamon wins and Salam loses then Salam will be in 10th place. Shabad have played all their games,so they will remain at the bottom regardless of the results today.

RESULT UPDATE 21.12.08:Salam Zgharta lost 3-0. The goals were scored in the 5th, 78th and 87th minutes of the game. Tadamon Sour drew 0-0. This leaves Salam Zgharta in 9th place with six points;Tadamon Sour in 10th place with five points; Shabab Al Ghazieh in 1th place with 4 points.

The two remaining games this year for Salam Zgharta will be difficult and a test of the teams abilities to hold their nerve and not to collapse under pressure.

On Saturday, 13th December 2008, Salam plays Al Ahed, who are currently in 4th place in the First Division.

The week following they play against Al Ansar on Sunday, 21st December 2008, who are currently in 3rd place.

Salam is in 8th place, having won 1 game, drawn 3 and lost 4.

MATCH REPORT 13.12.08: At half time Salam was behind 1-0. Five minutes into the second half they equalised 1-1. Then Al Ahed scored four consecutive goals in 52nd, 62nd, 69th and 88th minutes. Final score 5-1.

On Saturday, 6th December 2008, Salam Zgharta drew 2-2 with Tadamon Sour. Had it not been for Tadamon's equalizer in the 91th minute, Salam would have won the game.

Salam is in 8th place in the First Division

Salam Zgharta played on Sunday, 30 November 2008, against Shabab Sahel, drawing 0-0.

Salam is 9th in the First Division.

On Sunday, 23rd November, Salam Zgharta lost against Al Nejmeh, 0-5.

The goals were scored in the 38th; 44th; 56th; 73rd and 91st minutes of the game. The team is top of the First Division club.

Salam is now 10th place in the First Division with points after six games. The Division consists of eleven teams, so Salam has to raise its game to avoid being in the relegation zone during the remaining season.

The website, Lebanese Football, reported on Thursday, that a delegation from Salam Zgharta, headed by its President, Fr. Estephan Frangieh visited the Minister of Youth & Sports, Arslan Talal.

The Minister was told of Salam's plans concerning the building of the new stadium and it's wish that the Club was all inclusive. The Minister said he wished the Club well. The report can be read from here.

On Sunday, 16th November 2008,Salam Zgharta play Al Shbab Al Qzazeia.

Both teams were promoted from the 2nd Division at the end of the 2007/2008 season.

At half time, Salam was 1 - 0 down, with Al Shbab scoring in the 14th minute.

In the second half there was a blitz of goals, but unfortunately going against Salam. The final result was 3-2, against Salam, with winning goals being scored in the 78th and 91st minute's, with Salam's two goals being scored in the 51th and 66th minute's of the game.

Salam Zgharta has announced the following people making a donation towards the Stadium Appeal:

-Sheikh Khalil Karam (Venezuela): 10 meters

- Sayed Romanos Dahdah: 1 meter

The price of one square meter is LL100,000 (US$ 67:Euro 48)

To donate please call:
00 961 6 66 02 30 or 00 961 70 15 92 30
Account number at Credit Libanais:
USD 045.001.190.0001138.013
LL 045.100.190.0001138.015

Those nearer to home can visit the Club's office at the St. John's Hall.

On Sunday, 2nd November 2008, Salam play Al Mabarrah, who are currently in third place, with Salam in joint seventh.

RESULT UPDATE: Salam Zgharta 0 vs. Al Mabarrah 0

On Sunday, 26th October 2008, Salam Zgharta play their third game of the 2008/2009 season, against Al Hikma. In the 2007/2008 season, Al Hikma ended third from bottom in the First Division.

Salam has announced the following people making a donation towards the Stadium Appeal:

- Habib and Ramia Chediak and Ronald Shaghouri (through Tony Sleiman Frangieh): 840 meters.

The price of one square meter is LL100,000 (US$ 67:Euro 48)

To donate please call:
00 961 6 66 02 30 or 00 961 70 15 92 30
Account number at Credit Libanais:
USD 045.001.190.0001138.013
LL 045.100.190.0001138.015

Those nearer to home can visit the Club's office at the St. John's Hall.

RESULT UPDATE: Salam won 1-0, Mohamed Mansoor scoring in the 45th minute. They now stand joint 7th in the First Division, after the third stage, this weekend.

This Sunday, 19th October, sees Salam Zgharta play against Racing Beruit, their second game of the season.

The Club has announced the following people making a donation towards the Stadium Appeal:

- Sarkis Jreij Abchi and his family (Venezuela): 50 meters
- Joseph Jreij Abchi and his family (Venezuela): 50 meters
- Edmond Jreij Abchi and his family (Venezuela): 50 meters
- Badwi Amine Dahdah (Venezuela): 5 meters
- Ramon Amine Dahdah (Venezuela): 5 meters

The price of one square meter is LL100,000 (US$ 67:Euro 48)

To donate please call:
00 961 6 66 02 30 or 00 961 70 15 92 30
Account number at Credit Libanais:
USD 045.001.190.0001138.013
LL 045.100.190.0001138.015

Those nearer to home can visit the Club's office at the St. John's Hall.

RESULT UPDATE: Salam lost 3-1, with Racing scoring in the 8th,49th & 58th minutes and Salam scoring in the 78th minute of the game.

Salam Zgharta has announced the following people making a donation towards the Club's Stadium Appeal:

- Mehsen Sarkis Yammine and his family (Venezuela): 20 meters
- Tony Sarkis Yammine and his family (Venezuela): 20 meters
- Maurice Hamid Geitany and his family (Venezuela): 10 meters
- Boutros Mehsen Dahdah and his family (Venezuela): 10 meters
- Johnny Boutros Dahdah and his family (Venezuela): 10 meters
- D. Tony Boutros Dahdah and his family (Venezuela): 10 meters

The price of one square meter is LL100,000 (US$ 67:Euro 48)

To donate please call:
00 961 6 66 02 30 or 00 961 70 15 92 30
Account number at Credit Libanais:
USD 045.001.190.0001138.013
LL 045.100.190.0001138.015

Those nearer to home can visit the Club's office at the St. John's Hall.

The names will also appear on a board in the staduim as well as on the Club's website www.salamgharta.com , as a Friend of Salam Zgharta.

This weekend sees the long awaited return of Salam Zgharta to First Division football. It will also be the only North Lebanon Club in the First Division as Tripoli Sporting Club has resigned from the Division because of financial problems.

The first game is on Saturday against, Al Safa, who ended in 5th place last season, in Tripoli.

Salam has announced that they did not finalise the signing of Cameroon player, Simon Pastor, but that they have signed up Nigerian player, Brans Abdi*, who previously played for a Syrian team.

One Lebanese football online fourm is saying that Salam has a budget of $US 300,000. Other clubs mention are: Ansar - 1 Million ; Nejmeh - 1 Million ; Ahed - 750,000; Safa - 650,000 ; Racing - 450,000 ; Mabarrah - 300,000 ; (Salam Zgharta - 300,000) ; Shabab Al Sahel - 250,000; Hikma/Sagesse - 250,000 ; Shabab Al Ghazieh - 250,000 ; Tadamon Sour - 225,000

* Name is subject to translation ammendment.

RESULT UPDATE Salam lost 2-1.

The report of the game by, Al Anwar, can be read from here:

Arabic

English - Google

The Lebanese newspaper, Al Akhbar, reports in their Sport's page this weekend that Salam Zgharta has signed two new overseas players, with a third player to be announced.

The players named are George Nomo (27), as we reported previously, and Simon Pastor (20) both from Cameroon. George Nomo played for a Portuguese team; Simon Pastor played for a Costa Rica team.

On Saturday, 4th October 2008, Salam is playing a pre-season friendly game in Tripoli against, Shabad Al Sahel. In the 2007/2008 season, Shabad ended in 6th place, so the friendly should be a good game to see the strengths and weaknesses of Salam.

The Club will be trying out in the game, Lebanese player, Omar Assad, from the 3rd Division team, Marine Club; as well as an unnamed Palestine player who is said to have played in Jordan.

Yet more Venezuelan support for the Salam Zgharta Stadium Appeal. The Club has announced the following as making a donation:

- Antoine Miguel Yammine and his family (Venezuela): 4 meters
- Joseph Girgis Zadeh (Venezuela): 6 meters
- Antonio Keblan Yammine (Venezuela): 10 meters
- Toufic Mehsen Masri and his family (Venezuela): 6 meters
- Halim Keblan Frangieh and his family (Venezuela): 6 meters
- Muna Antar Maarawi (Venezuela): 3 meters
- Joseph Pierre Maarawi (Venezuela): 3 meters
- Farouk Bachir Roumieh (Venezuela): 2 meters
- Sarkis Mehsen Yammine and his family (Venezuela): 20 meters

The price of one square meter is LL100,000 (US$ 67:Euro 48)

To donate please call:
00 961 6 66 02 30 or 00 961 70 15 92 30
Account number at Credit Libanais:
USD 045.001.190.0001138.013
LL 045.100.190.0001138.015

Those nearer to home can visit the Club's office at the St. John's Hall.

The names will also appear on a board in the staduim as well as on the Club's website www.salamgharta.com , as a Friend of Salam Zgharta.

Salam Zgharta has gone to Syria this week to play against local teams as part of their pre season preparations.

They have been joined by their new signing* from Cameroon who will play in defence as well as two players from Morocco who are under trial with them. The Lebanese Football Association rules allow clubs to have three overseas players and one Palestine player. The name of the Cameroon player has not been announced on the Club's website, which does not forbear well for next season's reporting by the Club.

When the Club was promoted to the First Division for the 2008/2009 season we said that the Club needed to ensure that, both its pitch and facilities as well as its website, did merit to a First Division team. The Club, as we reported previously, has contracted for a new artifical turf and we are please to learn that work has began on Salam's stadium and pitch. The Club's website now needs to raise its own game, so it stands comparision with other First Division clubs.

The Venezuelan Zgharta Zawie community continue in their donations to the Salam Zgharta Appeal for a new stadium. The Club has announced the following as making a donation:

- Jose Fawzi Sayegh (Venezuela): 20 meters
- Mehsen Romanos Ndayra (Venezuela): 2 meters
- Johnny Robert Ayrout (Venezuela): 1 meter
- Youssef Boutros Mouawad (Venezuela): 1 meter
- Miguel Jean Finianos (Venezuela): 1 meter
- Albert Badih Abchi (Venezuela): 1 meter
- Nada Sleiman Abchi (Venezuela): 1 meter
- Jonathan Albert Abchi (Venezuela): 1 meter
- Christian Albert Abchi (Venezuela): 1 meter
- Daniel Albert Abchi (Venezuela): 1 meter
- Antoine Miguel Yammine (Venezuela): 10 meters

The price of one square meter is LL100,000 (US$ 67:Euro 48)

To donate please call:
00 961 6 66 02 30 or 00 961 70 15 92 30
Account number at Credit Libanais:
USD 045.001.190.0001138.013
LL 045.100.190.0001138.015

Those nearer to home can visit the Club's office at the St. John's Hall.

The names will also appear on a board in the staduim as well as on the Club's website www.salamgharta.com , as a Friend of Salam Zgharta.



*It was reported in the Lebanese media on Sunday, that Salam's new Cameroon signing, George Nomo, scored the winning goal in the friendly match against Hitteen Club, Latakia, 1-0.

Not to be outdone by their compatriots, whose donations we reported last week, the following donations have been made. This summer there were many visitors from Venezuela.

- Keblan Emil Karam (Venezuela): 10 meters
- Georges Badih Antar (Venezuela): 20 meters
- Fouad Miguel Sayegh (Venezuela): 5 meters
- Sulme Sayegh (Venezuela): 2 meters
- Christian Fouad Sayegh (Venezuela): 1 meter
- Michel Fouad Sayegh (Venezuela): 1 meter
- Eduardo Fouad Sayegh (Venezuela): 1 meter
- Carlos Fawzi Sayegh (Venezuela): 10 meters
- Ramon Fawzi Sayegh (Venezuela): 10 meters
- Yvonne Kehdou Farshakh (Venezuela): 10 meters
- Libano Philippe Zaatar (Venezuela): 10 meters
- Sultane Abchi Halabi (Venezuela): 10 meters
- Georgette Mehsen Abchi (Venezuela): 10 meters
- Robert Philippe Abchi (Venezuela): 10 meters
- Josephine Antoine Dahdah (Venezuela): 5 meters
- Johnny Antoine Dahdah (Venezuela): 5 meters
- Dr. Georges Antoine Dahdah (Venezuela): 5 meters
- Tony Albert Yammine (Venezuela): 5 meters

The price of one square meter is LL100,000 (US$ 67:Euro 48)

To donate please call:
00 961 6 66 02 30 or 00 961 70 15 92 30
Account number at Credit Libanais:
USD 045.001.190.0001138.013
LL 045.100.190.0001138.015

Those nearer to home can visit the Club's office at the St. John's Hall.

The names will also appear on a board in the staduim as well as on the Club's website www.salamgharta.com , as a Friend of Salam Zgharta.

It seems that the Venezuelan Zgharta Zgharta community has been active recently in donating towards the Salam Zgharta Appeal for a new stadium. The Club has announced the following as making a donation:

- Nilson Miguel Sayegh (Venezuela): 5 meters
- Karina Sayegh (Venezuela): 2 meters
- Yvonna Nilson Sayegh (Venezuela): 1 meter
- Maria Mercedes Nilson Sayegh (Venezuela): 1 meter
- Anna Karina Nilson Sayegh (Venezuela): 1 meter
- Rene Pierre Koussa: 2 meters
- Ivonne Alphonse Koussa: 1 meter
- Mouna Alphonse Koussa: 1 meter
- Youssef Alphonse Koussa: 1 meter
- Tannous Nassour Karam (Venezuela): 1 meter
- Boutros Kareh (Venezuela): 8 meters
- Antoine Miguel Yammine (Venezuela): 10 meters
- Wahib Mohsen Geitany (Venezuela): 10 meters
- Antoine Boulos Yammine (Venezuela): 6 meters

The price of one square meter is LL100,000 (US$ 67:Euro 48)

To donate please call:
00 961 6 66 02 30 or 00 961 70 15 92 30
Account number at Credit Libanais:
USD 045.001.190.0001138.013
LL 045.100.190.0001138.015

Those nearer to home can visit the Club's office at the St. John's Hall.

The names will also appear on a board in the staduim as well as on the Club's website www.salamgharta.com , as a Friend of Salam Zgharta.

It has been reported in the Lebanese media that Salam Zgharta's players: George Sadik, Mohsen Nassif and Claude Kharma will play for the Club next season. Also that the Club is seeking to recruit new players from Cameroon.

At Salam Zgharta's dinner on Friday, 5th September 2008, the Club announced that it had signed a $US 238,000 contract with Europe's leading artificial sport surface company, Greenfields, for its stadium's pitch. The new pitch will be ready in December 2008, when hopefully Salam's home games can in fact be played at home, rather than in Tripoli.

With a new pitch and supporters being allowed to attend games in the new season, there is no reason for supporters not to attend home games at least.

The website of, Greenfields, says that it is, " the leading artificial sport surface company in Europe with 20 years of experience in the development, engineering and installation of premium synthetic playing fields. Systems developed using the same testing equipment used by FIFA, UEFA and National Football Association affiliated research laboratories. Leading training grounds and stadia throughout the world are choosing artificial turf systems from GreenFields. And there are very good reasons why.

Players love our artificial surfaces too, they offer consistent bounce and ball roll, excellent sliding and friction resistance and shock absorption that mirror the properties of the best natural grass fields. On-going testing is done to simulate the play and use of the turf to evaluate how systems will behave over a longer period of time."

The company is based in the Netherlands and recent pitches include those for Ankara 19 Mayis Stadi, Turkey and Majed Ass’ed Play Ground, Al Bireh, Palestine.

Salam Zgharta also launched its supporters magazine called, Hisadana, ( meaning harvest).

The Club also has a new logo as seen in the main photograph.

Salam Zgharta is holding an dinner on Friday, 5th September 2008 at 9 p.m at the Al Ferdous Restaurant. The Club will be launching its new supporters magazine, " Salam Zgharta." Local singer, Ghassan Chedrawi will be performing during the evening. Tickets are 100,000 LL per person. The proceeds of the evening will go towards supporting the Club for the forthcoming football season.

Also, the Club has announced that it will be soon announcing the names of overseas players. The Lebanese Football Association (Federation Libanaise de Football -FLFA) rules concerning overseas players provide that there can only be three overseas players and one Palestinian player in a Club's team. This suggests that the Club's finances are sufficiently sound to embark on recruiting new players.

Further good news is that supporters will be allowed to attend matches in the 2008/2009 season.

What is not good news is that the Club, having appointed in June, Ahmad Soubhi Ahmad, from Iraq, as the new coach, it has now announced that it is looking for a new coach. Salam's first game of the 2008/2009 season is on Saturday, 4th October 2008 against Al Safa.

NEWS UPDATE The Club has announced that they have engaged a new coach, Nicolas Philibert, from France.

The Salam Zgharta Club has announced the appointment of new coach, Ahmad Soubhi Ahmad, from Iraq, for the next season.

It has also announced that Vice President Semaan Jerr Douaihy was nominated to be a candidate in the forthcoming election of the Lebanese Football Association's board, stated to be held on 1st September 2008.

The website of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has however reported that, FIFA, football's governing authority, is not happy with the Lebanese Football Association and its planned elections, which they say is being held on 1st August. The report appears on the Full Story page.


Full Story

One of the frustrating aspects of being a supporter of a Lebanese football club is that you cannot go to games and applaud your team's winning goals or to shout out encouragement when they are losing. Whether next season's supporters will be permitted to go is yet to be decided and much depends on the politcal temperature of Lebanon.

Many supporters have turned to the internet to support their teams either by using the club's website or increasingly by joining the club's Facebook group. This trend was reported on by the Lebanese newspaper, Al Akhbar, in last Friday's issue, which can be read from here. The report mentioned favorably Salam Zgharta's Facebook group which can be reached from this link.

The majority of First Division teams have in addition to Facebook groups, well produced websites. One of the best is www.nejmeh.com which gives everything what a website should give to a supporter - news of forthcoming games, match reports, standings, players profiles and forum. Another good website, but with too much intro which gets boring after frequent visits, is www.alansar-club.com. Others include www.clubsagesse.com; www.al-mabarra.com

Salam Zgharta has the embryo of an website, www.salamzgharta.com and we are sure that by the start of the 2008/2009 season it will stand comparision with the other club's in the First Division and do credit to the team.

The website of the biweekly American newsletter, Counter Punch , carries an article on the subject of Lebanese Football and politics, which are not so strange bedfellows in Lebanon as may be in other countries. The article is written by Karim Makdisi, Assistant Professor of International Relations and International Environmental Policy at the American University of Beirut. It can be read on the Full Story page.

Lets pray that our own team, Salam Zgharta, can keep clear of such sectarian and political associations and be an example of an united and multi faith Lebanon, where all supporters can be on the same side.
Full Story

As one season ends we get news of the next.

The Lebanese Football Association has announced that the start of the First Division of the Lebanese Football League 2008/2009 season will on Saturday, 4th October 2008. The first fixture for Salam Zgharta is against Al Safa, who ended 5th in the 2007/2008 season.

A source of revenue for football clubs is television broadcasting revenue and the Association has announced the allocation of television revenue for the clubs last season. The allocation was as follows:

Ahed - US$ 56,103
Ansar - US$ 54,958
Nejmeh - US$ 54,958
Mabarrah - US$ 42,364
Safa - US$ 40,074
Shabab Al Sahel - US$ 32,059
Tripoli Sports Club - US$ 26,334
Tadamon - US$ 24,045
Racing Club Beirut - US$ 22,899
Hikma - US$ 22,899
Irshad - US$ 18,320
Ahly Saida - US$ 18,320

We mention such figures to demonstrate that no Club can survive only on such revenue.

To achieve success does not come cheap. Players, coach, medical staff, training ground, transport and accommodation do not come cheap. To attract new players does not come cheap. To avoid a repetition of the 2006/2007 disastrous season, no fault of the players, does not come cheap. Either, Salam Zgharta, gets the financial support this season or to paraphrase the immortal words of the 1966 World Cup Final , "They Think It's All Over, well it is for Salam"

There being only two teams from North Lebanon playing in the 1st Division next season, we hope the whole region will come together and support both teams - Salam Zgharta and Tripoli Sports Club - to ensure that there will be no Beirutian walk over.

We are told that Salam Zgharta will be announcing soon the appointment of a new coach for the forthcoming season.