For the first time in history LibyaA woman takes over the presidency of a sports club after the other candidates gave up running in the elections, with the aim of taking advantage of her “good and strong” relationships to advance the club. Darence In the east of the country.
And you will receive Shennib’s victorya member of the Libyan House of Representatives from the city of Derna, will assume the position of president of the Darnis Sports Club within two weeks, in a move she described as “not an easy task, a heavy burden, and a crowning achievement for all Libyan women.”
Intisar told Reuters on Monday that her acceptance of the position came in response to repeated demands from the club’s management, its fans, and the people of Derna, which prompted her to think carefully before embarking on this experience, given the challenges it entails.
She added: “It is an honor for me and an honor for any Libyan that a woman holds this position. It is a coronation and a heavy burden that is not easy, and I want to prove that Libyan women are capable of offering something, especially to the fans of the Darnes Club.”
For his part, the club’s designated General Assembly President, Mohamed Abdel Ati, confirmed to Reuters by phone that all the nominated lists had conceded in favor of Intisar, so that she would be installed by acclamation as the only candidate during the next two weeks, with a board of directors comprising between seven and eleven members to be headed later by it.
He stated: “Our recommendation of Mrs. Intisar did not come out of nowhere, but rather to benefit from her strong relationships that can contribute to the advancement of the club,” stressing that the next stage must focus on developing investment so that the club can rely on its resources, in addition to paying attention to the youth sector, which is what Shennib pledged to work on.
Shennib explained that she held a friendly meeting yesterday, Sunday, with the club’s management and three candidates who had previously applied for the club’s presidency, during which they announced their concession in support of her candidacy.
She added: “We will work to designate an open day for women within the club, as it is a sports, cultural and social institution, especially since the people of Derna are fans of poetry and art.”
Libyan Darnis Club players. (agencies)
A long history of the Libyan Darnes Club
Darnis Club, known as “The Elegant” in Libyan sports circles due to the beauty of its players’ performances, was founded in 1958 in the coastal city of Derna overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, about 300 kilometers east of Benghazi, the country’s second largest city.
The club witnessed various stages of naming and merging with another club known as “African Club”, before regaining its historical name Darence after 2011, a name said to refer to the city’s location between the mountains.
Intisar believes that assuming this position requires the solidarity of everyone, including the administration, fans, and the people of the city, stressing that the responsibility is collective.
She pointed out that her association with the club dates back to her childhood years, in light of the presence of her brother and uncle among its former players, in addition to the support of those close to her, which encouraged her to accept the position.
She acknowledged that this step may not be without criticism, saying: “Holding any position brings with it encouragement and criticism. There is a kind of jealousy as to how a woman can hold this position. There are countries led by women, not just sports clubs. Leadership is not measured by who is led by a woman or a man, but rather by competencies and capabilities.”
On the other hand, Abdel Ati said that the city of Derna is full of pioneering women in various fields who have the necessary competence to assume leadership positions.
Intisar confirmed that the coming period will witness diligent work to rebuild the club, which has suffered from accumulated crises, including internal and external debts, in addition to the repercussions of the war on armed groups, in addition to Hurricane Daniel, which struck the city in September 2023, claiming the lives of thousands and causing widespread destruction to the infrastructure.
