Bourj FC

Bourj
Full nameBourj Football Club
Nicknameزعيم الضاحية (Leader of Dahieh)[1]
Founded1967 (1967)
GroundBourj el-Barajneh Stadium
Capacity1,500
ChairmanVacant
ManagerVacant
LeagueLebanese Premier League (withdrew)
2024–25Lebanese Premier League, 7th of 12

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.[2] Founded in 1967, the club has won one Lebanese FA Cup and two Lebanese Challenge Cups.[3][4]

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

In 1993 Bourj, captained by Mohammad Ismail, won the final the Lebanese FA Cup 4–1 in extra time, against Homenmen.[5] Mallarby and Hassan Rahhal scored a brace each, while Papken Melikian scored the sole goal for the opposing team.[5] This was the second replay of the final, after both previous encounters ended in a draw after extra time.[5] In 2008, Bourj FC were relegated to the Fourth Division.[6]

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.[7] 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]

On 12 January 2026 Bourj announced their withdrawal from the Lebanese Premier League due to financial reasons and released all players.[11]

Supporters

Founded as the first club in the area, Bourj is considered to be the representative of all the families of the town.[12] 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.[13]

Club rivalries

Bourj's main rival have historically been Shabab Sahel, as they both fight for supremacy over the Dahieh suburbs.[12] The match has been dubbed the Dahieh derby.[1] Another important rivalry is with Shabab Bourj, because they are both based in the Bourj el-Barajneh district.[12]

Players

Notable players

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

Honours

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c ""زعيم الضاحية" يعود". lebanonfg.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  2. ^ "فريق: البرج". kooora.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Lebanon 1992/93". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 23 August 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  4. ^ Haroun, Ali (24 August 2019). "البرج ب"جدارة " بطل كأس التحدي السابعة". El Maestro Sport (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "اللقب الأول للبرج". نداء الوطن. 23 May 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  6. ^ "الشبيبة المزرعة". www.abdogedeon.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  7. ^ "بالصور: البرج يهزم طرابلس ويرفض استلام الكأس". كووورة. 1 August 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  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. ^ https://en.annahar.com/sports/269084/%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AC-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B7%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85
  12. ^ a b c FaLebanon
  13. ^ ""معركة" في جونية و"ألتراس" في برج البراجنة". موقع ياصور. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.