Dribble, Shoot, Score.

In response to corporate women demand, Sports Mania launched the BAN-CO Women Basketball league for the first time in Lebanon in 2018 with support from UNDP participation and other organizations. This created a platform for women to compete and play in a healthy environment while representing their corporations in the best way possible. What started out as a personal initiative, later became a common sweat and breath amongst 15 dazzling women working in different fields and programs.  “What brought us together was our passion for the game,” stated Tala Moukaddem, Captain of the women basketball team. She then stressed on the fact that “we had to seize this opportunity and to prove that women can also compete and play if given equal opportunities to do so”, emphasizing UNDP’s role in empowering women and promoting equality.  She added, “representing UNDP and women was our motivation to keep pushing forward, working harder, and enjoying the game”

On the 5^th of May, a sunny Sunday afternoon, UNDP staff gathered along the bleachers of Al-Chiyah Forum, rooting for their one and only UNDP team. This final game of the season brought out energy like never before, for the women who have been peacemakers and strategists only an hour earlier, have now transformed to comrades in a 40minute battle. Having won the Golden trophy last year, hearts were beating, along the rhythm of the ball bouncing on the ground, in hopes of a second championship knowing that throughout the tournament, the team managed to maintain a solid status as number 1 before entering the finals. After fighting with all it takes in a very competitive game, the team managed to place second in the tournament and while receiving the team trophy, the captain expressed that, “Every win is a blessing and Every loss is a lesson. Although we came short this year in second place, I am very proud of the team for showing great professionalism, sportsmanship and dedication during the entire championship and for reaching the finals”.

The women merged the emblems of hope and sisterhood and win or lose they “were off to make champions forever” making not only UNDP proud, but all their families and friends. They are now anticipating competing in bigger platforms in the future. Tala concluded that “throughout the tournament, we had uncountable wins, and this is just one set back that we will learn from and use as our motivation to keep pushing harder and come back stronger next year to regain our title as champions.”