Darayya Sports Club has gradually resumed activities in the city of Darayya, Rural Damascus, after years of suspension due to the extensive destruction of its facilities during the war. The revival comes amid efforts to rehabilitate infrastructure and expand participation, despite limited resources and the absence of direct government support.
In an interview with Enab Baladi on Friday, February 20, the club’s president, Adnan Hourani, outlined the club’s current situation, future plans, and the challenges it faces during this phase of recovery.
A history spanning more than half a century
The facilities of Darayya Sports Club were established in the 1970s, specifically around 1973. Before the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011, the club served as a key hub for sports activities in the city.
According to Hourani, the club once hosted teams in various sports disciplines until the beginning of the conflict, after which it sustained widespread destruction.
He explained that the former regime used the facility between 2013 and 2016 as a military headquarters and a transit point during its military campaign on Darayya, causing severe damage to much of its core infrastructure.
When the current management took over in early 2025, approximately 90 percent of the facility was destroyed. The damage included the administrative building, six a side football pitches, the swimming pool, sports halls, and affiliated commercial shops.
A new start after 2025
After being nominated by the Directorate of Youth and Sports to lead the club, Hourani and his team began reactivating its activities at the start of last year.
Since then, the club has managed to organize practical sports programs. It currently includes teams ranging from young juniors and juniors to the men’s category. Cadet, youth, and junior teams are participating in this season’s league, while preparations are underway to establish a men’s team for next season.
According to club data, around 100 players are officially registered, with increasing numbers of young people joining training sessions across multiple sports, not limited to football, Hourani said.
Gradual rehabilitation amid limited means
Despite the extensive destruction, rehabilitation is progressing gradually through available investments and local donations.
Current projects include three small sided football pitches, in addition to a restaurant, swimming pool, and café that are under construction and preparation, though they have not yet become operational, according to Hourani.
A preliminary study has also been prepared to restore the perimeter wall and administrative building, at an estimated cost of 1.3 billion Syrian pounds. The proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Sports through the Directorate of Youth and Sports, and the club is awaiting an official response.
Despite these efforts, Hourani stressed that there has been no direct government funding or full sponsorship from supporting entities so far, making the club largely dependent on self generated investments and local donations to finance its activities.
Economic challenges and equipment shortages
Hourani believes that Syria’s broader economic conditions directly affect the work of sports clubs. He pointed to a shortage of sports equipment due to its unavailability in ministry warehouses or at the Directorate of Sports, limiting the pace of development.
Rising reconstruction and maintenance costs also place an additional burden on the management, which is attempting to balance rebuilding efforts with the operation of diverse sports programs.
A social role beyond sports
Darayya Sports Club represents an important social space in the city. It attracts various age groups, from children and youth to older residents. Some women also participate in its activities, particularly in non competitive sports such as aerobics.
Hourani said the club’s role extends beyond sports. It contributes to strengthening social ties and reducing psychological stress by providing safe spaces for exercise and social interaction after years of disruption to normal life.
The club’s activities are not limited to football. They include combat sports such as Muay Thai, kickboxing, taekwondo, karate, and judo, as well as athletics programs including running, jumping, javelin, and discus throw, alongside various physical fitness exercises.
The club also focuses on nurturing younger age groups in cooperation with a local academy, as part of a plan to build a strong base of athletic talent capable of raising the level of local teams and participating in official competitions within the province and beyond.
Vision and plans for the coming years
The club’s future plan includes developing various sports in Darayya, preparing a team capable of competing in higher level championships, and establishing facilities that meet modern standards. The ambition is not limited to reaching the first division in football, but also to meeting the needs of athletes across different sports.
If funding for a full year becomes available, priority would be given to installing artificial turf on the main pitch, building stands and a running track, constructing a multi purpose sports hall, organizing intensive sports courses, and establishing a comprehensive sports academy.
Hourani emphasized the importance of moving from a relationship based approach to structured institutional work, improving management practices, activating the role of staff, and coordinating with relevant official bodies.
He said that team spirit within the administration helps confront current challenges despite difficult circumstances, placing the club on a long path toward achieving broader goals.
Regarding the club’s aspirations, Hourani described the dreams as “big,” stressing that the vision of Darayya Sports Club’s management goes beyond merely restoring activity. It aims to establish a modern sports facility capable of competing at the governorate and national levels, benefiting from the club’s location in the city and its future potential if adequate support is secured.
Darayya Sports Club returns to life, awaits support for rehabilitation Enab Baladi.
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