On May 13, 2024, Antonine University (UA) and Al Safa Sporting Club (Safa SC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the development of football in Lebanon. The agreement was signed by Fr. Michel Saghbiny, UA’s Rector, and Mr. Rami Bitar, Vice President of Safa SC, at UA’s Hadat–Baabda Campus, in the presence of officials from both institutions: Dr. Antonio Soutou, Dean of UA’s Faculty of Sport Sciences (FSS), and Mr. Rony Gerges, faculty member at the FSS, as well as Mr. Hagop Demirdjian, Technical Director of Safa SC’s Youth Teams, and Ms. Joanna Ammar, Head of the Performance and Physiotherapy Departments at Safa SC.

The MOU aims to establish a framework for cooperation in areas such as football coaching, physical training, management, physiotherapy, volunteering, and research. Under the agreement, the 2 organizations will work to develop managerial policies, football activities, research projects, and volunteer programs.

Some key deliverables outlined in the MOU include: UA will collaborate with Safa SC to organize internships for its students and encourage them to participate in the Club’s training programs. UA will also offer a special discount to Al Safa players enrolled in its academic programs. In return, Safa SC will provide a platform for UA students to undertake short-term projects and internships in areas like physical preparation, football coaching, sports management and marketing, and physiotherapy.

By combining the expertise and resources of UA and Safa SC, the institutions aim to nurture the next generation of football professionals in Lebanon by creating valuable opportunities for students and contributing to the overall progress of the sport in the country.