-December 5th, 2004 - 1pm, Le Phénicien restaurant:

Club Sagesse Board of Trustees president Henri Chalhoub invited Sagesse and Sporting Clubs' presidents Joseph Freiha and Hisham Jaroudi along with their administrations, players and many distinguished guests -among whom General Souheil Khoury, head of the Lebanese Olympic committee- and media representatives to a common lunch at Le Phenicien Restaurant in Horsh Tabet, Beirut.
Although officially invited as well, neither official nor player from the Blue Stars club did show up.


Sagesse and Sporting administration and players outside the restaurant surrounding General Souheil Khoury, head of the Lebanese Olympic Committee.

Welcoming his guests, Chalhoub started by saying: "I have been told that this is the first event as such that bring together both Clubs, Sagesse and Sporting. I would like to seize this opportunity by wishing that this step would be just a start for a fruitful relationship, hoping that we will be witnessing thrilling basketball games along with fair play, away from troubles, word abuse and negative tensions. Everyone has the right to cheer and fight for his team on court, hopefully away from hate and bad feelings. Here I would also wish from the medias to support us in this matter by calming things down instead of stirring rivalry and tensions when and if it ever occurs."


Mr Henri Chalhoub addressing his guests

Taking his turn, Sporting club president Hisham Jaroudi addressed the audience by saying: "I would like to welcome everyone, we truly appreciate this invitation and look for many others to happen and gather around the other first division clubs, because that is in fact what we are all about, one big basketball family."


President of Sporting Club Mr Jaroudi during his speech with Sagesse Club president jusge Freiha to his right.

"Sagesse and Sporting are among the biggest clubs that had the potential to raise the level of basketball games in Lebanon during the past years" he added, "Therefore, I would expect this fact to continue throughout the next season until reaching the final exciting stages of the competition.
I would also like to welcome Sagesse Club president Joseph Freiha who represent the high values of Sagesse institution, as well as the Sagesse school superior father Abdelssater representing his excellency Mgr Boulos Mattar to whom we hold high esteem and reverence.
As president of Riyadi Club, I say to all our fans that Sagesse School was and will always be carrier of ethical, civic, patriotic and sports values, hoping this will unfold for the benefit of the Lebanese basketball and sports in General."

Jaroudi concluded his speech with a credit to Sagesse club former president Antoine Choueiry by saying: "Let us not forget that in Mr Choueiry's time, we have won 3 Asian Championships, covering the Lebanese Basketball scene in particular and sports in general with high glory and pride. Thus we would like to thank him and his team for what they did then, and wish good luck and more to come for those who are now at the helm of the Club."


Fatherr Abdelssater -superior of sagesse school- to the right of Mr Chalhoub