Benghazi, November 12, 2023 (Al-Anbaa Libya) – Tunisian coach Firas Fayala is one of the few coaches who succeeded in achieving several championships during two consecutive seasons with the age groups of Al-Nasr Basketball Club, and no coach who trained the age groups in Al-Nasr has ever done so.
Firas, who is 32 years old and has attended many training courses, won ten championships at the eastern region level and at the Libyan international level, in the under-18 and under-20 categories.
The Libyan News Agency “WAL” hosted the Tunisian coach, and spoke with him about his career, the most prominent sports stations, and his opinion of Libyan basketball, so you can read the dialogue in brief.
“Who is Firas Fayala?”
“Fiala” Firstly, I thank you for this generous hospitality, and I am very grateful for this handshake. Firas Fiala is an ordinary coach, like the other coaches, from the youth of Kairouan. I was born in July of the year 1991, specializing in the field of sports, specifically in basketball. I always aspire to develop… Myself, and I always work to remain within the group of strong people.
And “Tell me about your beginnings and your local and foreign achievements?”
“Fiala” “I am a member of the youth of Kairouan, and I am proud to be a member of this ancient institution. This institution had the greatest role after God Almighty in what I am in now. I started there as a basketball player and through it I was able to reach the first team, after I graduated.” In all age groups, but when I arrived in the first team, I found great difficulty between training and studying, and when I completed my university studies, I immediately joined the world of coaching, and from there was the real start. I achieved several championships with JS Kairouan, the most important of which was my achieving second place in the African Championship, which was held in Angola.
How do you evaluate your experience with the age groups at Al-Nasr Club?
“Fiala” My experience with Al-Nasr Club in the age groups is very special in my training career, and I am very proud of this station, especially since Al-Nasr Foundation is always looking for titles. Over the course of two years, Al-Nasr U-18 and 20-year-old categories achieved ten championships, which were at the regional level. Al-Sharqiya, and at the level of the Libyan state, these championships that the players achieved over two years did not come as a result of coincidence or a stroke of luck, but rather came after efforts, fatigue, and the intensification of all efforts. This one spirit made victory dominant in the Salawi scene at the level of age groups.
“How did you deal with Al-Nasr station?”
“Fiala” Al-Nasr Foundation is always very interested in the Sunni groups, so the focus with Al-Nasr was on the Sunni groups, as this stage is one of the difficult stages, which is raising a player to win titles from a young age, and the most important thing is his arrival to the first team, so thank God we have players. Young people playing for the first team in Al-Nasr, some of whom played in the Libyan basketball finals and were no more than 20 years old.
“What do your ten coronations with Al-Nasr mean to you?”
“Fiala” I personally believe that my ten coronations with Al-Nasr are among the most important sporting milestones in my life. I am proud and happy with those coronations. They are very beautiful moments, with an institution that is always looking to climb the podium. What made me happier was winning championships from outside the country. This is The point will be reflected in the performance of Al-Nasr players, which is raising young men to win championships from wherever they are, as this remains firmly established in the player’s imagination until he reaches the first team.
“Wal,” what distinguishes your experience with Al-Nasr classes from the promoter you previously trained for a short period?
“Fiala” My experience with Al-Muruj was not bad in the Sunni categories, and even if it was very short, I benefited a lot from it. I stayed with Al-Muruj until the semi-finals of the tournament, and then Al-Muruj withdrew from the finals for reasons specific to the club. As for excellence, Al-Nasr is always dedicated and competitive. All the tournaments, and he is always looking to climb the podium.
“Wal,” through your journey within the corridors of the Libyan basketball, how do you see its future?
“Fiala” Of course, I traveled a lot in Libya, and I saw that there are fans and people who are fond of Libyan basketball, and this is what encourages young people to turn to basketball. Libya has recently witnessed a major qualitative shift, through the remarkable development witnessed by the Libyan league, and it has become basketball. Basketball in Libya is a major competitor to football, in addition to the fact that the Libyan public is very fond of it. Libyan basketball has become the focus of attention of Arab countries, not to mention that it has distinctive names.
“Wal” spoke about the fact that Libyan basketball has developed. What does it need to develop further?
“Veal” is confident that Libyan basketball has developed a lot over previous years. Every season it brings something new and enters the hearts of the fans because its federation is always working to advance it further, but it lacks something in order to keep pace with neighboring countries, and it lacks more media marketing and professionalism in Photography in the manner of external broadcasting, in addition to the weakness of media centers in some clubs, the process of live broadcasting has a positive impact on the players. The missing things, if available, make the Libyan basketball team strongly competitive by all standards with the Arab leagues.
“Wal,” can you tell us about the most important criteria for selecting basketball players?
“Fiala” basketball certainly depends on important specifications, including strong physical structure and distinctive height, in addition to jumping skill and communication skills with the group, in addition to the player’s desire and acceptance to play “basketball”, especially since one of the important criteria is that the opportunity is given to a child of his height. Not suitable. Perhaps his potential in the future will be a brilliant playmaker.
What are the main factors that made you take the lead on the scene?
“Villa” Every success has major factors and reasons. One of the most important factors in this place, after God Almighty, is for the players who demonstrated their discipline and desire to reach and achieve success, in addition to the club’s wise management, which stands at a short distance with the players and their needs and fulfills its duty to the fullest extent. The direction of the game, especially the age groups, which is the most important period in the game, and I do not forget the basketball sector in the club, which is very interested in the age groups and is always looking for something new.
“And” Do basketball courts in Libya conform to international specifications?
“Wow” the sports halls in Libya are not bad halls. There are large halls suitable for playing, and they meet international standards. It is true that the excellent halls are somewhat few, but the need calls for a larger number of halls, and if there are many halls, the demand for the game is greater.
“How have you seen the work of the Libyan Union recently?”
“Fiala” I believe that the Libyan Basketball Federation is taking steady and correct steps in organizing tournaments from the major to the Sunni categories at the level of Libya. The Libyan Basketball Federation in the past years has witnessed great success. The positive points are clearly visible, the most important of which is the decision to return the sporting public to the stands. Truth be told, the Federation The Libyan Basketball Federation knew how to deal with the country’s circumstances, and knew how to lead its competitions to success. I wish the greatest success to the Libyan Federation, which in a short period of time put basketball in the spotlight of neighboring international players.
Basketball fans are completely different from football. In your opinion, what are the differences?
It is true that there is a clear difference between them. The difference lies in the public’s understanding of the laws and rules of the game. Basketball fans are well aware of the different nature and laws of the game, completely from football, while football fans at the Arab level are always more fanatical. Fans in all Ahwal is very loving and in love with her club.
“And” Do basketball players suffer from a lack of professional opportunities?
“Fiala” Basketball in Libya is developing significantly, and there are many excellent names in it. Professional opportunities in Egypt, Tunisia and Lebanon are equal, different from Libya. In Libya, the matter requires the participation of the Libyan national team externally on several occasions, and in this picture, in addition to the media marketing of the Libyan League. More Libyan talents are highlighted externally and are the source of attention of the Arab countries. Libya will soon participate in the African qualifying match with Morocco, and if Morocco hosts the African event, Libya will qualify directly for the finals, and here the opportunity for professionalism for the Libyan player is great, in terms of the Libyan player’s appearance in a distinctive way. .
“And” Is Libya among your future plans?
“Fiala” Continuity in Libya is among my future plans. Libya is a comfortable country and a dream that many foreign and Arab coaches have. I see that the game of basketball will advance and develop in Libya more than it is now and will have an important future. It only needs marketing, professional photography, analytical studios and live broadcasts from clubs. All of them are steps that will make a real difference in the game, as the media is one of the pillars of the success of the game. (Libyan News – Benghazi) Houra / Bushra Al-Aqili
