POSTED BY: Eurobasket Center
Nadim Hakim
We had a chance to talk with the president of the Beirut Club Nadim Hakim . He is the main constructor of this successful campaign for the new power house on a Arab basketball map.
We are talking few days after winning cup title by your Beirut Club. You are the leaders of the league. It seems you're having hell of a season. Is there anything you can complain on? What was the goal, expectations before the season?
Thank you for having me, it is a pleasure! Well, this is the first season Beirut Club is leading the Lebanese League and it is the first time our club won the Lebanon Cup. So yes, not much we can complain on!
The goal for this season was to win the Championship. We knew that we're going to be one of the best teams, we wanted to set the bar high. This motivation drives us the whole season. Of course, we have our issues. One of the issues we faced this season was the duration of the championship wich meant additional costs wich could have been avoided had there been a better planning.
Earlier this season you were able to strenghten the roster with addition of Wael Arakji, one of the best Lebanese players. Was it hard to convince such player to join your club? Especially having that many quality players.
Wael Arakji as well as all the players we sighned are all special and talented players that we needed in our team in order to achieve the objectives. It is the aim of any player to join a winning team and thus they did not need alot of convincing in order to join.
How it happened that few years back to decided to league top division Sagesse and joind D2 team that time - Beirut Club? Was it all about the vision of the club owners or maybe you took it as a challenge?
Sagesse is a leading club with a large fan base and along history in lebanon basketball. It was an honor to have been part of Sagesse Club, however as we are not politically involved persons and as the political parties were somewhat involved in the club, we decided to leave and join a second division team and where no outside intervention in whatever form. Our main vision for Beirut Club has and always will be good and clean basketball, development of basketball academies, ect. We put a five years plan and started the implementation.
How is the general situation in Lebanon? Geopolitically and how it affects sports, basketball especially.
The situation in Lebanon is very difficult, be it political, social or economical. The clubs are sacrificing alot in order to keep the basketball alive in Lebanon. The basketball league is very competitive this season. The four teams in the semi-finals for this season are doing an exceptional job in adding the foreign players and each team decided in the position based on what their team needs. Beirut Club went for a center that will help our players in rebound and blocks.
Last but not the least... it is also a good time for you individually.
Yes, thank you. I have been honored to be nominated by the Lebanese basketball federation for the post in the arab basketball federation and I have been again honored by the different arab federations for electing me as Vice President. I hope that I will be an added value and that we will be able to help in the development of basketball in the arab world.
