Nejmeh SC

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This article is about the Lebanese football club. For other similarly named clubs, see Al-Nejmeh.

Nejmeh
Nejmeh Club Beirut.png
Full nameNejmeh Sporting Club
Nickname(s)القلعة النبيذية‎ (The Burgundy Castle)[1]
Founded10 March 1945; 76 years ago (10 March 1945)
GroundRafic Hariri Stadium[a]
Capacity5,000
Chairman
Manager
LeagueLebanese Premier League
2020–21Lebanese Premier League, 2nd of 12
WebsiteClub website
Active teams of Nejmeh
Football pictogram.svg
Women's
(defunct)
  • v
  • t

Nejmeh Sporting Club (Arabic: نادي النجمة الرياضي‎, lit. 'The Star Sporting Club') is a football club based in Manara, a district in Ras Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, that competes in the Lebanese Premier League. The club was established in Beirut in 1945, and received its license in 1947. Nejmeh's board is affiliated with the Future Movement and the Hariri family.[2][3]

Historically, the club is second only to their cross-city rivals Ansar in the Lebanese Premier League and the Lebanese FA Cup. Nejmeh however do lead in number of Lebanese Elite Cup titles. The rivalry between the two clubs has been dubbed the Beirut derby. In Asia, Nejmeh were runners-up in the 2005 AFC Cup, where they lost to Al-Faisaly of Jordan. Furthermore, they won the Al-Adha Cup – an Arab tournament – four times, last time being in 1991.

History[]

Nejmeh's lineup in 1945

Nejmeh was founded in 1945 by the Druze and Sunni communities from Ras Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon,[4] as an association football club, with Anis Radwan as their first president.[5] This committee applied for a license at the Lebanese Government on 4 March 1947,[6] which was issued on 28 April.[5] The choice of club's name is said to have came on 11 October 1945, when a meeting was held at Radwan's house at night to discuss the affairs of the team.[5] Looking at the sky's stars, Radwan decided to call the team Nejmeh (The Star).[5] The five-pointed star is the Druze's religious symbol.[4]

On 25 July 1950, Nejmeh won the Lebanese Second Division, but were only officially promoted in 1951,[6] during which was appointed president of the club. They first competed in the Lebanese Premier League during the 1953–54 season.[6]

During the 1970s, Pelé[7][8][9][10] and Bebeto,[11][12][13] played matches with Nejmeh as honorary guests.

Nejmeh won the FA Cup for the first time in its history on 31 October 1971, when they won 3–1 against Safa.[14] Hani Abdelfattah scored the first goal for Safa at the 17th minute, and Jamal Al Khatib equalized for Nejmeh in the 25th minute.[14] The second half saw Nejmeh score two goals: in the 61st minute, and in the 78th minute. refereed the game with Amin Al Fata and Harout Avikian as his assistants.[14] The game was a repeat of the 1964 final, which Safa had won; Adnan Hariri scored the sole goal of the game.[14]

Colours and badge[]

Ever since the club's foundation, the traditional and primary color of Nejmeh has been burgundy red.[15] The club's badge is composed of a star in the center, in reference to the club's name which, in Arabic, means "Star".[5] The two cedars on the side of the logo recall Lebanon's national symbol.

In 2019 the logo underwent various changes: the star changed from white to gold, the cedars from green to burgundy and the text from burgundy to black. Other minor changes have also been made such as the enlargement of the width of the white border, and the shift of the text "Beirut 1945", which moved from the center of the star to underneath it.[16]

Stadium[]

Main article: Rafic Hariri Stadium

The stadium is located in Manara area of Beirut, Lebanon.[17] The stadium consists of a football field, and spaces that accommodate around 5,000 spectators, together with a VIP seats area that accommodates around 100 guests, a cafeteria, and a gymnasium.[18]

The old club stadium first consisted of a sand training field over the land number 704 in Ras Beirut area with no facilities or fences.[18] The stadium went through a rehabilitation process, with improvements including implanting the field with grass, increasing the seats spaces to allow more spectators, and enhancing the stadium facilities, walls, and fences. The first phase of the process started in June 2003 and was completed in late March 2004.[18]

On 21 February 2005, the stadium was named "The Martyr Rafic Hariri Stadium" in honour of the late Prime Minister.[18]

Supporters[]

Founded on 9 February 2018,[19] Nejmeh's "Ultras Supernova" was the first ultras group to be introduced in Lebanon.[20][21][22] The name "Supernova" is a reference to the etymology of Nejmeh which, in Arabic, means "Star".

Prior to the Arab Club Champions Cup game against Al-Ahly of Egypt, played on 13 August 2018, seven "Ultras Supernova" fans were arrested by the Egyptian national security because of the negative connotations the word "Ultras" has in Egypt.[23] The fans have been returned to Lebanon by request of the Lebanese Ambassador to Cairo.[24]

Club rivalries[]

Nejmeh fans during the Beirut derby at the Camille Chamoun Stadium in 2018.

The Beirut derby with Ansar has historically been the most anticipated game in Lebanon: both located in Beirut, Nejmeh and Ansar have shared the majority of titles. While Nejmeh has been more successful in Asia, Ansar holds the most league titles and FA Cups.[15]

In recent years another fierce rivalry has developed, between Nejmeh and Ahed. Also based in Beirut, Ahed have won the majority of league titles since the 2014–15 season. Tensions between the two teams have also forced the federation to change venues multiple times.[25] Most noticeably, in the 2016–17 season, Nejmeh refused to play against Ahed in the league title decider and were sanctioned six points by the federation.[26]

Another rivalry that has developed in recent years is with Salam Zgharta. Since the 2016–17 season, Salam Zgharta and Nejmeh have played various intense games between each other, with some escalating in offensive chants.[27]

Other important matches are with Safa and Racing, both located in the same city as Nejmeh.

Players[]

Current squad[]

As of 12 September 2021[28]

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 Lebanon LBN Ali Sabeh
2 DF Lebanon LBN Ali Al Saadi
3 FW Lebanon LBN Ali Kassas
6 DF Lebanon LBN Ali Farouk
7 MF Lebanon LBN Mahmoud Kaawar
8 MF Lebanon LBN Mostafa Kanso
9 FW Lebanon LBN Ali Alaaeddine
10 MF Lebanon LBN Hassan Chaito
11 FW Lebanon LBN Khaled Takaji
12 DF Lebanon LBN Abdallah Aich
15 MF Lebanon LBN Issa Khreiss
17 FW Lebanon LBN Mahmoud Siblini
18 DF Lebanon LBN Kassem El Zein
19 DF Lebanon LBN Ali Hamam (captain)
20 MF Lebanon LBN Hassan Kourani
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 GK Lebanon LBN Mohammad Bechara
22 FW Lebanon LBN Mohamad Ghaddar
24 DF Lebanon LBN Maher Sabra
25 GK Lebanon LBN Karim Salame
27 FW Lebanon LBN Khalil Bader
29 FW Lebanon LBN Omar Ammache
30 FW Lebanon LBN Edmond Chehade
33 DF Lebanon LBN Andrew Sawaya
50 MF Lebanon LBN Mohamad Salem
77 MF Lebanon LBN Mahdi Zein
80 MF Lebanon LBN Wassim Ayach
90 GK Lebanon LBN Ali Hallal
— MF Lebanon LBN Hassan Annan
— MF Lebanon LBN Johnny Farchakh
— MF Lebanon LBN Alaa Mezher

Notable players[]

See also: Category:Nejmeh SC players
Players in international competitions
Competition Player National team
2000 AFC Asian Cup Abbas Chahrour  Lebanon
Wahid El Fattal  Lebanon
Mohamed Halawi  Lebanon
Moussa Hojeij  Lebanon
2007 AFC Asian Cup Bassim Abbas  Iraq
2012 Africa Cup of Nations Osama Chtiba  Libya
2017 Africa Cup of Nations Hassan Wasswa  Uganda
2019 AFC Asian Cup Kassem El Zein  Lebanon
Ali Hamam  Lebanon
Hassan Maatouk  Lebanon
Nader Matar  Lebanon

Honours[]

Domestic[]

League[]

Cup[]

Continental[]

Asian record[]

In 1982, Nejmeh reached the Arab Club Champions Cup final but lost to Iraqi club Al-Shorta.[31] In 2005, Nejmeh reached the final of the AFC Cup and lost to Al-Faisaly of Jordan: this was the first time a Lebanese football team had reached the final of any Asian competition.[15]

1996–97: Second round
2002–03: First Round
2004: Quarter-finals
2005: Final
2006: Semi-finals
2007: Semi-finals
2010: Group stage
2014: Round of 16
2015: Group stage
2017: Group stage
2019: Group stage
1990–91: First round
1997–98: First round
1998–99: First round

Managerial history[]

See also[]

Footnotes[]

  1. ^ Only used as a training ground

References[]

  1. ^ "The Birth, Death and Re-Birth of Lebanese Football | Ahdaaf". Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  2. ^ "تحالف النجمة والأنصار: فتّش عن السياسة". الأخبار (in Arabic). Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  3. ^ "نهائيّ النجمة – الأنصار: هزيمة العهد.. ومشروع نائب". www.asasmedia.com. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Alami, Mona (1 September 2009). "Religious about football". NOW Lebanon. Archived from the original on 19 April 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Establishment of the club". NEJMEH SC. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c "النجمة عميد الأندية اللبنانية... عراقة وتاريخ وإنجازات — Al Laeb Al Arabiاللاعب العربي". Al Laeb Al Arabi (in Arabic). Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  7. ^ http://forum.kooora.com/?t=5801520 pictures of the visit and details about Pelé's Nejmeh experience in Arabic.
  8. ^ http://pelethebest.blogspot.com/2014/11/pele-em-hebraico-significa.html?m=1 Set of pictures of Pelé with Nejmeh SC in Lebanon
  9. ^ http://blogbaladi.com/brazilian-football-legend-pele-played-for-lebanese-nejmeh-sc-in-1975/ Picture of Pelé with Nejmeh Club prior to the friendly game where he played for the team.
  10. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaO2EyaTSWs video of Pelé's visit effect on the Lebanese civil war
  11. ^ http://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/news-photo/former-brazilian-world-cup-winner-bebeto-wearing-a-t-shirt-news-photo/2554235 Bebeto in the Nejmeh Club kit during the game.
  12. ^ http://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/news-photo/famous-brazilian-soccer-player-bebeto-gives-the-thumbs-up-news-photo/2548910 Picture of Bebeto in Beirut with details about the visit.
  13. ^ "O Portal de Notícias do Estado de S. Paulo". Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "النجمة بطل كأس لبنان للمرة الأولى عام 1971 - فادي سمعان". نداء الوطن. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Great Asian Derbies – Al Ansar SC vs Nejmeh SC (Beirut)". GhanaSoccernet. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  16. ^ "شعار جديد لنادي النجمة". Elsport News (in Arabic). Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  17. ^ Kabboul, Tamarah (8 February 2019). "Discover old Beirut in these 15 amazing photos". www.the961.com. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "The Stadium". NEJMEH SC. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  19. ^ Lebanon, Football. "السوبرنوفا في الذكرى الثانية للتأسيس: حلمنا ان نرفع إسم نادينا عالمياً". football-lebanon.com. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  20. ^ "المدرجات لا تعترف إلا بالشجعان". lebanonfg.com. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  21. ^ COPA90. "Ultras Supernova: Lebanon's First Ultras Group". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  22. ^ "مباريات قويّة في الجولة العاشرة". الأخبار (in Arabic). Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  23. ^ "قضية مشجعي "النجمة" الموقوفين في مصر... ماذا جرى معهم؟". LBCI Lebanon (in Arabic). Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  24. ^ "Lebanese Nejmeh fans to be deported days after arrest at Borg al-Arab Stadium | MadaMasr". madamasr.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  25. ^ "The Hezbollah Club". BabaGol. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  26. ^ FaLebanon (23 February 2019). "Salam Zgharta vs Nejmeh Rivalry: The Sequel". falebanon.com. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  27. ^ Mahfoud, Maroun (23 February 2019). "Salam Zgharta vs Nejmeh Rivalry: The Sequel". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  28. ^ "Nejmeh SC". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  29. ^ "النجمة عميد الأندية اللبنانية... عراقة وتاريخ وإنجازات — Al Laeb Al Arabiاللاعب العربي". Al Laeb Al Arabi (in Arabic). Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  30. ^ "Bazzi '12 Signs Professional Contract With Nejmeh Sporting Club In Lebanon". University of Detroit Mercy Athletics. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  31. ^ "Al Shorta SC Website". Al Shorta SC Website. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  32. ^ "وفاة فاروق السيد مدرب الزمالك الأسبق". كووورة. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.

External links[]

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