Bourj Football Club (Arabic: نادي البرج الرياضي, lit.'Tower Sporting Club') is a football club based in Bourj el-Barajneh, Beirut, Lebanon, that competes in the Lebanese Premier League.[3] Founded in 1967, the club has won one Lebanese FA Cup and two Lebanese Challenge Cups.[4][5]

Bourj
Full nameBourj Football Club
Nickname(s)زعيم الضاحية (Leader of Dahieh)[1]
Founded1967; 57 years ago (1967)
GroundBourj el-Barajneh Stadium[a]
Capacity1,500
ChairmanFadi Nasser[2]
ManagerMalek Hassoun
LeagueLebanese Premier League
2022–23Lebanese Premier League, 5th of 12
Current season

Nicknamed "the Leader of Dahieh" (Arabic: زعيم الضاحية), the club earned promotion to the Lebanese Premier League in 2019, for the first time in 16 years.[1]

History edit

In 1993 Bourj, captained by Mohammad Ismail, won the final the Lebanese FA Cup 4–1 in extra time, against Homenmen.[6] Mallarby and Hassan Rahhal scored a brace each, while Papken Melikian scored the sole goal for the opposing team.[6] This was the second replay of the final, after both previous encounters ended in a draw after extra time.[6] In 2008, Bourj FC were relegated to the Fourth Division.[7]

On 1 August 2021, Bourj won the Lebanese Challenge Cup for the second time, beating Tripoli in the 2021 final; they refused to attend the crowing ceremony, following a verbal altercation between Fadi Nasser, Bourj's president, and a member of the Lebanese Football Association (LFA)'s executive committee.[2] On 2 August, the LFA imposed a fine of £L22 million on the club.[8] The same day, Bourj announced their withdrawal from the Lebanese Premier League through their social media, and that they would not pay the fine imposed.[9] They eventually took part in the 2020–21 season.[10]

Supporters edit

Founded as the first club in the area, Bourj is considered to be the representative of all the families of the town.[11] Following the introduction of ultras groups in Lebanon in 2018, "Ultras Borjawi" (Arabic: ألتراس برجاوي) was formed at the start of the 2018–19 Lebanese Second Division season.[12]

Club rivalries edit

Bourj's main rival have historically been Shabab Sahel, as they both fight for supremacy over the Dahieh suburbs.[11] The match has been dubbed the Dahieh derby.[1] Another important rivalry is with Shabab Bourj, due to the fact that they are both based in the Bourj el-Barajneh district.[11]

Players edit

Current squad edit

As of 7 February 2024[13]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   LBN Abdelkarim Saleh
2 DF   LBN Mohamad El Dor
3 DF   LBN Shadi Skaf
4 DF   LBN Khoder Hallak
5 MF   LBN Mohamad Al Faour (vice captain)
6 FW   LBN Hussein Ibrahim (captain)
7 DF   LBN Zein Tahan
8 MF   LBN Bilal Sabbagh
9 FW   LBN Ali Markabawi
10 FW   LBN Hassan Chaito
11 MF   LBN Ali Chaito
12 MF   LBN Mohamad El Sibai
15 MF   GHA Prosper Donkor
No. Pos. Nation Player
18   LBN Oudai Shmouri
19 MF   LBN Saad Chweiki
20 FW   LBN Ali Kassas
22 GK   LBN Hasan Hazimeh
24 MF   TUN Houssem Louati
25 DF   SYR Ahmad Al Saleh
30 MF   LBN Mohammad Al-Saleh
55 DF   LBN Mohammad Al-Husseini
77 DF   LBN Abou Bakr Al-Mel
88 FW   SEN Tidiane Camara
90 GK   LBN Ali Hallal
99 FW   LBN Hilal El-Helwe
DF   LBN Youssef Anbar

Notable players edit

Players in international competitions
Competition Player National team
2023 AFC Asian Cup Hilal El-Helwe   Lebanon

Honours edit

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Only used as a training ground.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c ""زعيم الضاحية" يعود". lebanonfg.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b "بالصور: البرج يهزم طرابلس ويرفض استلام الكأس". كووورة. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  3. ^ "فريق: البرج". kooora.com. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Lebanon 1992/93". RSSSF. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  5. ^ Haroun, Ali (24 August 2019). "البرج ب"جدارة " بطل كأس التحدي السابعة". El Maestro Sport (in Arabic). Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "اللقب الأول للبرج". نداء الوطن. 23 May 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  7. ^ "الشبيبة المزرعة". www.abdogedeon.com. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  8. ^ "اعتماد البرج بطلًا.. وتكبيده غرامة غير مسبوقة". كووورة. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  9. ^ "البرج يصعّد ويعلن انسحابه من الدوري". كووورة. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  10. ^ "الاتحاد اللبناني يعتمد انطلاق الدوري.. وإيقاف أونيكا". كووورة. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  11. ^ a b c FaLebanon
  12. ^ ""معركة" في جونية و"ألتراس" في برج البراجنة". موقع ياصور. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  13. ^ "Bourj SC". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 9 March 2022.

External links edit