Fouling out

by Peter Speetjens September 16, 2013

written by Peter Speetjens September 16, 2013

Sport can heal and unify a nation, as shown by Lebanese basketball club Sagesse (Hekmeh) in the late 1990s. Their green and white colors waved across the country when the club was crowned Asian Club Champion for the first (and second) time in Lebanon’s history. But sport can also have the exact opposite effect, and such is the case for Lebanese basketball today. Rattled by feuds and infighting, the 2012-2013 season was halted several times and eventually ended without a winner, and on July 18 the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) suspended the Lebanese Basketball Federation (LBF) from international competition. Consequently, the national basketball team — already in Manila — was not allowed to take part in the FIBA Asian Championships. Replaced by Iraq’s national side, the Lebanese flew back to Beirut on July 21, not having made a single basket. Rodrigue Akl, the national team’s point guard and captain of

Peter Speetjens

Peter is a journalist currently based in São Paulo. After completing law studies in Rotterdam, he embarked on a journey to explore the world, spending a year in India before spending around 20 years in the Middle East and eventually relocating to Brazil. His work has appeared in both Dutch and English language media, including Trouw, De Groene, De Standaard, Hard Gras, NRC, The Blizzard, MO Magazine, Middle East Eye, and Mongabay. Fluent in five languages, he also enjoys photography and co-authored the documentary "2000 Terrorists," which was broadcast by Al Jazeera in 2004.

1 comment

Lebanese basketball returns - Executive - Online News Lebanon | Online News Lebanon May 21, 2014 - 12:55 AM

[…] a year since its suspension due to political interference in Lebanon’s most popular game, the Lebanese Basketball Federation (LBF) was reinstated as a […]

Comments are closed.

Fouling out

You may also like

1 comment