Bourj FC returned to official competitions, Mido is the new manager

After a break of more than 8 months, Bourj FC returned to official competitions in September 2026. They withdrew from the Lebanese Premier League at the beginning of the year, in the first days of January, for financial reasons, but the club did not fold, and they found the necessary resources to return to football activities. Hassan Meshor Mekdad, better known as "Mido", is the new manager of Bourj FC, a very smart choice, given the fact that he was the architect of this team in mid 2010s, as a manager between 2014 and 2018, when Bourj FC succeeded to promote to the Third Division (2015) and then to the Second Division (2017), and was very close to promote to the Premier League in 2018, but this feat was postponed for the next year (2019), but under a different manager. Anyway, Mido proved his talent in constructing teams from the ground, and this is also this task right now.

A task which he actually began very well, with the support of the other members of the club management, as a good number of young talents have been already enrolled and they also managed to get some good results in the Lebanese Cup, the first competition in which Bourj FC is taking part. So, a week ago, Bourj FC won their first match, 2-1, against Mabarra, which is quite a good surprise, given that this was the first match of this team, which is still under construction.

 Bourj FC starting XI against Mabarra. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page

The match was played at Al Ahed Stadium on 6 September, and was broadcasted live on YouTube. Issa Bazzi scored the first goal for Bourj FC (40'), Mabarra equalized by means of Bernard Sarfo (63'), but Ali Hareb brought all the points to Bourj FC in stoppage time (90'+3').

The next game for Bourj FC in this new cup format, in groups, was against big favourites Ansar, on 12 September, on Amin Abdelnour Stadium in Bhamdoun, also broadcasted live on YouTube. Ansar won 2-1, but Bourj FC might be proud of their game and the wonderful goal scored by Ali Rahhal (47'), which broke the deadlock. However, Ansar came back into the game and eventually won, due to goals scored by Mohamad Bou Saleh (53') and Ali Tneich (85').

 Bourj FC starting XI against Ansar. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page

The final and decisive match for Bourj FC will be next week-end against Salam Zgharta. Both teams have 3 points, and are behind leaders Ansar, with 6 points, which are already qualified to the quarter-finals, and above Mabarra, with 0 points, and no chance whatsoever to get one of the top two places. The team classified in second place will qualify however to the quarter-finals, and therefore the match between Bourj FC and Salam Zgharta will be decisive. Bourj FC also have the advantage of a better goal difference, so even a draw would be enough for them to qualify, which, under the circumstances, may be considered as an achievement.

After this group stage of the Lebanese Cup is over, the league will start. Bourj FC managed to enroll in the Second Division, despite the financial difficulties associated with the club. Hopefully, these difficulties will be surpassed, and Bourj FC will have a strong season, perhaps even looking at a possible promotion and come back to the Premier League, if the financial situation improves.