This weekend is the beginning of the Lebanese Football Championship 2005/2006 season. It also sees the return of Salam Zgharta to the First Division, who play in an away match against Al Ansar Football Club on Sunday, 13th November.

Salam Zgharta started out as Salam Ashrafieh, Beirut, changing to its present name in 1971, when a consortium of Zghartawiens, headed by Sassine Ghazaleh, took over the Club. The Club has played in the First Division in the following seasons: 1996/1997 (13th); 1998/1999 (8th); 1999/2000 (7th); 2000/2001 (5th); 2001/2002 (6th); 2002/2003 (10th after relegation round); 2003/2004 (10th). The Club was relegated to the Second Division for 2004/2005 season. Figures in brackets show end of season position.

Al Ansar won eleven consecutive Championship's titles between 1988 and 1999 and the Lebanese Cup, nine times between 1988 and 1999. At the end of the Championship season 2004/2005, although having the same points as Nejmeh, 44, they came second to them in the league due to goal difference.

NEWS UPDATE: Final score - Al Ansar 3 Salam Zgharta 0.The goals were scored in the 17th, 45th and 90th minute by Mohmoud Chahoud. Salam Zgharta stands 10th in the First Division due to goal difference. The game was broadcast live on the Lebanese television channel Future TV. See Forum - Salam Zgharta for standings.

As part of Salam Zgharta preparations for next season in the First Division of the Lebanese Football Championships they are playing a friendly game in Tripoli against Sagesse today, Wednesday, 19th October 2005.

During the lead up to the new season the Club has been on the search of new overseas players.To read about the team, click on the Full Story tab.

The photograph shows the team with the winners cup of the Second Division 2004/2005.

NEWS UPDATE: Salam won 2-1
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For the second year running the LEO Club of Zgharta Zawie are to be congratulated for organising another successful "Ehden by Bike" event. At the start on Saturday, 24th September, there were seventy-four participants from Zgharta- Baskinta -Tripoli. The town of Baskinta is at the foot of Mount Sannine, Mount Lebanon and members its cycling club took part.

There was a pre-race lap around Ehden, starting at the Zgharta Ehden Municipality building, crossing to the Al Midan and then to the Ehden By-Pass for the start.

The race raised some 400,000LL which will go towards an old peoples home at the village of Aarjes, which is some 10 kilo metres from Zgharta.

As there were a large number of children under the age of nine the Club increased the categories from five to six. To read whom were the winners, click on the Full Story tab. To see the photographs of the race click here

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On Sunday,15th May, the final game of the season was played between Second Division rivals Salam Zgharta and Racing Club Beirut . It was a game of incident, causing the international referee , Ridwan Ghandour, to stop the game twice, once for nine minutes and then for three minutes both in the second half . The unpopular stoppages appeared to unite the supporters of both teams who declared that "not from now but from the past Salam and Racing are brothers".

The final whistle saw Salam Zgharta winning 1-0 as well as becoming the division's champions, having gained 56 points against second place Racing Club Beirut with 52 points. Salam's goal was scored in the 35th minute by Wehbe Doueihy. Both teams are promoted to the First Division next season.

Please help us to create our Roll of Honour (1971-2005) for Salam Zgharta players. See the Forum - Special Requests.

The two teams who are certain to be promoted to the First Division next season meet next weekend to decide who will take the honour of top place in the Second Division. Salam Zgharta and Racing Club Beirut will play each other at the Tripoli Municipal Stadium on Sunday, 15th May, with Salam needing only a draw to take first place.

On Tuesday Salam played against Tadamoun Nabatieh at Kafar Jouz, Nabatieh, winning 4-1, with goals by Salam players Francois Kharma (30th minute) Mouhamad Abeid (45th minute) Wehbe Doueihy (46th minute) and Anthony Saroufim (52th minute). Racing Club Beirut also played the same day winning their match against Homenmen.

Please help us to create our Roll of Honour (1971-2005) for Salam Zgharta players. See the Forum - Special Requests.

Rotaract Zgharta Zawie is holding a Rally between Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th May 2005.

For further details contact 03 57 38 10

It seems that being certain of promotion to the First Division next season is not good for Salam Zgharta. On Saturday, 30th April, they played Homentmen Beirut at the Borj Hammound Stadium when they lost 1-0. The weekend matches mean that although Salam retain their number one postion in the Second Division , they are only one point ahead of Racing Club Beirut who drew 2-2 with Ahli Sayda.

To read the Second Division position table click on the photo.

Salam Zgharta: Roll of Honour (1971-2005)

We wish to create a roll of honour of all the players who have played for Salam Zgharta since it began in 1971. We would like their names, the season(s) they played, and where they are now. If you have photos of the teams or players we would welcome copies so that we can feature them. Send such details or photos to us at: contactus@zgharta.com

Their Saint George's day game saw Salam Zgharta heading to the First Division next season. On Saturday, 23rd April, Salam defeated third place Homenmen Beirut , 2-1, meaning that they are guaranteed promotion next season. Salam's goals were scored by Wehbe Doueihy in the 22nd minute and Mohsen Nassif in the 70th minute. Salam retains its first position in the Second Division with 47 points followed by Racing Club Beirut , who will also be promoted, and Homenmen Beirut with 16 points.

The photo shows Salam Zgharta after the game. For more photographs of the team visit the Galleria - La Dolce Vita - Sports - Salam Zgharta.

Salam Zgharta continued to demonstrate their dominance this season in the Second Division. They played Al Borj at the Tripoli Municipality Stadium on Saturday, 9th April, when they took control of the game almost from the start of play. Their first goal was scored some 25 metres from the goal mouth in the 6th minute, with a final goal in the 70th minute from a free kick.

On Sunday, Salam Zgharta played neighbouring team Al Mahaba Tripoli at the Tripoli Municipality Stadium. Salam started strong,when Mohsen Nassif scored a goal in the 2nd minute of the game.Two more goals were scored by Salam , in the 48th minute by the young future star, Anthony Saroufim and then at the end by Abedul Fitah Al Samad.

The final result, 3-0, means that Salam Zgharta is two points ahead, with 38 points,of rivals Racing Club Beirut drawing 2-2 against Borj.

Click on the photo to enlarge the Second Division table.

Last Saturday saw Salam Zgharta continue their campaign out of the Second Division with a win over Al Nahda Bar Elias . Playing at the Safa Stadium, Beirut their superior experience and tactical play overwhelmed the opposition in the second half with two goals.The first goal was scored by Bassam Assaad in the 48th minute followed by a goal in the 78th minute by Wehne Doueihy.

Salam Zgharta played in the qualifying round of the Lebanese Cup last Thursday against First Division Safa of Beirut. Playing what Antonio Mouawad, the team coach, said was their best game of the year they lost 2-0.

Despite this disappointment Salam continued their wining streak in the Second Division when they played last weekend Itihad Haret Al Naeme at the Borj Hammoud Stadium. It was a hard game, which produced only one goal, scored by Salam player Mohsen Nassif in the 29th minute.

The Second Division point’s table can be read by clicking on the opposite photo.

On Saturday saw Salam Zgharta play one of their most difficult away games . The match was at Bourj al Shamaly, Tyre when they played Al Islah. Salam was fortunate in scoring a goal by Francois Kharma in the 28th minute as two minutes later Salam player Bassim Assaad was sent off. Notwithstanding playing against a team of ten men Al Islah was not able to take advantage and the score remained 1-0.

Near rivals Racing Club Beirut won 2-0 against Itihad Al Naema.

Salam Zgharta remain at their top place in the Second Division.

The postponed match between Salam Zgharta v Homenmen Beirut was played today.Before the match started there was a minute silence for the late former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.

The last time their game was postponed this season Salam Zgharta lost and it seemed that this was to be repeated today.When the half time whistle blew Homenmen Beirut had scored twice.

However in the second half it was different, with four goals being scored by Salam players- Claude Harma (58th minute) , Abed al Fitah Al Samad (67th), Wehbe Doueihy (73rd )and Ghassan Jarmanous (90th).Final score 4-2.

Addendum: 7 March 05 . The remaining Lebanese teams in the Second Division played their postponed games on Saturday. Rivals Racing Club Beirut won 2-1 over Igtimae Tripoli. This means they are second in the Second Division. A large gap between Salam and Racing and the remaining teams has opened up which suggests that both teams will go up to the First Division next season.Salam Zgharta remains top of the Second Division.

The Lebanese Football Association announced that matches would be postponed to 4th March following the death of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.

The Salam Zgharta v Homenmen Beirut game on 23rd February was consequently cancelled.

The Lebanese Football Federation postponed all Sunday's games due to the death of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Salam Zgharta next match will be played on Wednesday, 23rd February at 2.15pm, against Homenmen Beirut at the Bourj Hammoud Stadium, Beirut.

Click on the photo to see current positions in the Second Division.

They usually say third time is lucky but it proved not to be the case for Salam Zgharta this weekend.

The twice postponed match between Salam Zgharta and Homentmen was played on Saturday when Homentmen won 3-0. To add more pressure on Salam Zgharta rivals Racing Club Beirut won against Bourg Al Chamaly, 1-0, putting them in equal place with Salam in the Second Division.

Due to the adverse weather conditions in Lebanon last weekend the game between Salam Zgharta and Al Homenetmen was postponed. The game will now take place at 2.15pm on Tuesday 8th February,Tripoli Municipality Stadium. Al Homenetmen were relegated with Salam Zgharta from the First Division last year.

We have been asked by Pedro Saroufim of Mexico to help him contact Salam Zgharta's player Antoini Saroufin, who he believes he is related to. Can anyone send us Antoini's contact details, contactus@zgharta.com

The top two teams of the Second Division, Salam Zgharta and Racing Club Beirut, played against each other on Sunday at the Fouad Chehab al Riyadi Stadium, Jouneih.

The final score was 3-3, following a equalising goal by Racing Club Beirut in the last few minutes of the game. The goal scorers for Salam were Abdel Fitah al Samad (16), Wehbe Doueihy (73), Mohamad Abeib (86).

Salam remains top of the Second Division ahead of Racing Club Beirut by 3 points.

Despite the bad weather last Sunday, 23rd January,the match between Salam Zgharta and Al Islah Borj al Shamali was played at the Municipal Stadium Tripoli.The spectators were rewarded in seeing seven goals , five of which were scored in the second half. Salam won convincingly 6 -1.The result showed that Salam is equally good in attacking play as well as in defence.

To read the report of the match click on the Full Story tab.
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On Sunday Salam Zgharta played local team Al Ijtamei Tripoli at the Municipal Stadium Tripoli. It was as expected a hard game and the only goal of the game was in the 53th minute when Wehbe Doueihy of Salam Zgharta scored.

Salam Zgharta remain first in the Second Division, with Racing Beirut in second postion having won 2-1 in their match with Homenmen Beirut.

Once again Salam Zgharta had a convincing result on Sunday when they won 3-0 against Al Mahaba Tripoli at the Tripoli Municipal Stadium. This despite a change of the team's coach. Previous coach, Houssein Afach having moved to Chabab Al Sahel of Beirut, who presently lies last in the First Division, is replaced by Fawaz Hendou, the former Syrian International team player.


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The New Year looks promising for Salam Zgharta, as they continue their winning ways. On Sunday at the Tripoli Municipal Stadium they played Nahda Bar Elias and won with the convincing result of 3-0, keeping them at the top of the Second Division. Salam's next game is with Al Mahaba Tripoli.

Second Division 5th round positions:
1- Salam zgharta - 13 points
2- Racing Club Beirut - 12 points
3- Homenmen Beirut - 9 points