Intisar Shneeb is the First Woman to Lead a Sports Club in the History of Libya

SadaNews - Intisar Shneeb is the first woman to head a sports club in Libya, marking a historic moment as a woman assumes the presidency of a sports club for the first time. This comes after other candidates withdrew from the elections to take advantage of her "good and strong" relationships to uplift the Darnis Club in the eastern part of the country.

Intisar Shneeb, a member of the Libyan Parliament from the city of Derna, will officially take over as president of the Darnis Sporting Club within two weeks, a move she described as "an important role that is not easy, a heavy burden, and a crowning achievement for all Libyan women."

Intisar told Reuters on Monday that her acceptance of the position was in response to repeated requests from the club's management, its fans, and the people of Derna, prompting her to think deeply before embarking on this journey due to the challenges it entails.

She added, "This is an honor for me and for any Libyan woman that a woman can hold this position. It is a crowning achievement and a heavy burden; it is not easy, and I want to prove that Libyan women are capable of contributing something, especially to the fans of Darnis Club."

Mohamed Abdel Aati, the appointed head of the General Assembly of the club, confirmed to Reuters over the phone that all the nominated lists withdrew in favor of Intisar, allowing her to be instated via acclamation as she is the only candidate in the upcoming two weeks, after which a board of directors will be formed consisting of between seven and eleven members led by her.

He said, "Our endorsement of Ms. Intisar did not come from nowhere but to capitalize on her strong relationships that can contribute to the club's advancement," emphasizing that the coming phase must focus on developing investments so that the club can rely on its own resources, alongside attention to the youth sector, which Shneeb has committed to working on.

Shneeb 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 withdrawal in support of her nomination.

She added, "We will work on dedicating an open day for women within the club, as it is a sports, cultural, and social institution, especially since the people of Derna are fond of poetry and art."

A Long History

The Darnis Club, known as "the Elegant" within Libyan sports circles due to the beauty of its players' performances, was founded in 1958 in the coastal city of Derna, located about 300 kilometers east of Benghazi, the second-largest city in the country.

The club has undergone various name changes and has merged with another club known as "Al-Afrqi," before regaining its historic name Darnis after 2011, a name said to reference the city’s location among the mountains.

Intisar believes that assuming this position requires the solidarity of everyone—management, fans, and the local community—stressing that responsibility is collective.

She noted that her connection to the club dates back to her childhood, with her brother and uncle previously among the players, alongside the support of those close to her, which encouraged her to accept the position.

She acknowledged that this step might not be free of criticism, saying, "Holding any position brings encouragement and criticism. There is a kind of envy about how a woman could occupy this position. There are countries led by women, not just sports clubs. Leadership is not measured by whether it is a woman or a man but by competencies and abilities."

On the other hand, Abdel Aati stated that the city of Derna is rich with pioneering women in various fields, who possess the qualifications necessary to hold leadership positions.

Intisar confirmed that the upcoming period will witness diligent work to rebuild the club, which has suffered from accumulated crises, including internal and external debts, the repercussions of the war with armed groups, as well as the devastation caused by Hurricane Daniel, which struck the city in September 2023, claiming thousands of lives and causing widespread destruction to infrastructure.

Source: Agencies