In a region marked by resilience and rich cultural heritage, yet faced with economic challenges and social unrest, Bilal's journey began in Lebanon, where he set out to transform lives through the power of football.

In 2017, he took on the role of a coach in the Football for Development project by Right to Play. From the beginning, Bilal was deeply committed to self-improvement and education. He eagerly participated in the WorldCoaches training offered by the KNVB, including basic and advanced courses as part of the Football for Development project with Right To Play Lebanon. It was during these training sessions that Bilal first encountered the concept of "life skills".

"The first time I heard about 'life skills,' I had no idea about their importance. I used to focus only on teaching sports skills, but the training sessions with Right To Play showed me how these life skills could be seamlessly integrated into football training to create an impactful educational experience for the young players"

As Bilal's understanding and coaching abilities grew, so did his passion for having an positive impact on his surroundings. He started gathering children from his neighborhood to train them on a sandy pitch near his home, the area was in desperate need of rehabilitation, with overgrown vegetation and a surface that had become a hub for illicit activities. Determined to provide his players with a better educational environment, Bilal made the decision to move his academy to an indoor court, a turning point in his career.

"The support from KNVB and the training kits from Right To Play were a game-changer for me. They allowed me to take my coaching to the next level and ensure that my players were getting the best possible education"

Bilal opened his own football academy in the Al Quobbeh area of North Lebanon. Today, the academy boasts an impressive enrollment of 300 children, with a growing number of girls joining the teams for the first time in the area.

Bilal's success didn’t stop there. In 2019, he achieved another milestone by becoming a national football referee, and in 2023, he fulfilled his dream of becoming an international referee. Next to his own achievements, Bilal is particularly proud of his participants and the impact they are making. He especially wants to highlight the story of Omar, a player who started in Bilal's training sessions and later became a coach in Bilal's academy after attending certification training with Right To Play. Omar is now paving his own path and inspiring the next generation of footballers, just as Bilal once did for him.

Despite different challenges, the pandemic, the Lebanese revolution, and the Beirut blast, Bilal has persevered. He adapted his training sessions with the support of innovative educational strategies. Today, his academy has not only recovered but has also expanded, with two additional branches in Abou Samra and Tripoli set to open soon.