- 03
- June
- 2025
In a landmark achievement for women’s volleyball in Lebanon, Adab and Riyada Club of Kfarshima has earned its first-ever promotion to Division 1, marking a turning point for a young and determined team that defied the odds to rise through the ranks.
After finishing second in its category with three wins and just one loss, the team secured its place among Lebanon’s volleyball elite, becoming one of the youngest squads ever to qualify for Division 1. With an average age of just 16, these athletes have set a new standard for youth development in the sport.
‘We Did It!’
For outside hitter Nour al-Fata, the promotion is more than a win, it’s a dream come true.
“The feeling is surreal. We’ve been dreaming of this moment, and now it’s ours. In those final moments, all I could think was, ‘We did it!’ It felt like everything we’d worked for finally came together,” Fata said. “I wasn’t just proud of myself, I was proud of the whole team. We stayed focused, fought until the end, and earned our spot in Division 1. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.”
Management Pledges Full Support
At the helm of the team’s success is head coach Michel Barbour, who took over training the squad in December, just three months before the league kicked off.
“This is the first time in the club’s history that the women’s team qualifies for Division 1,” Barbour said. “We had a very short preparation period, but the players’ love for the game and their willingness to improve made all the difference.”
Now, the real work begins. Barbour plans to restructure the training routine, increasing weekly sessions from two to four, and is looking to strengthen the squad by recruiting an additional setter and an experienced player to balance the youthful lineup.
“We need to bring in at least two players. The team is still too young to carry this responsibility alone. If the federation allows foreign players in the women’s league like they do in the men’s, the club is open to signing one,” he explained.
Perhaps most significantly, the coach revealed that the club’s management has pledged full support to keep the team competitive in Division 1, both financially and structurally, even in the absence of external sponsorship.
Federation’s Vision for Growth
Lebanese Volleyball Federation President Waleed Kassouf praised Kfarshima’s progress and highlighted the broader growth of the sport across the country.
“This year, 30 women’s teams participated in the league. Kfarshima is one of the teams that stood out and rightfully earned a spot in Division 1,” Kassouf said.
“We’re working closely with schools, signing protocols to train school coaches, and expanding our development programs for both boys and girls.”
Kassouf also announced a significant expansion in media coverage, with up to 45 volleyball games, including both men’s and women’s games, set to be televised locally next season. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s girls’ national team is preparing for its first-ever appearance in the Asian Women’s U16 Volleyball Championship this July, after six months of training.
“We’re part of the FIVB’s empowerment program for women, and we’re seeing more and more female participation across all competitions,” he emphasized.
Eyes on the Future
For the young athletes of Kfarshima, promotion to Division 1 is not the finish line; it’s just the beginning.
“Now that we’ve made it to Division 1, the goal is to prove we belong here,” said Fata. “We may be the youngest team, but that doesn’t scare us; it motivates us. We want to stay united, grow even stronger, and compete with confidence.”
From overcoming injuries to juggling school and training, this team has shown maturity beyond its years. And now, as the players prepare for the challenges of Lebanon’s top volleyball tier, they do so with the full backing of a club that believes in their potential, and a country beginning to embrace its rising female athletes.
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