From the judiciary to the stadiums.. Intisar Shanib is the first woman to head a sports club in Libya and seeks to restore the glories of Darnes.

In a precedent in the history of Libyan sports, Intisar Shanib became the first woman to assume the presidency of a sports club in the country, after being elected president of the Darnis Club in the city of Derna. Sheneib faces the challenges of rebuilding the club after the disaster of Storm Daniel.

In an unprecedented step in Libya, Intisar Mustafa Shanib was elected president of the board of directors of the Darnis Sports Club in the eastern city of Derna, becoming, according to local media reports, the first woman to assume the presidency of a Libyan sports club.

The election of Shanib comes at a time when the club, which is considered one of the oldest clubs in Libya, is facing financial and administrative challenges, in addition to the damage to its facilities as a result of Storm Daniel, which struck the city of Derna in September 2023 and is still ongoing.

In statements reported by the Libyan newspaper "Bawabat Al-Wasat", Shanib said that the encouragement of the club's fans and members was a major motivation for her accepting responsibility, despite the difficult circumstances that Darnis is going through.

She explained that the new administration began working to address the accumulated debts and reorganize the administrative structure, in parallel with plans to rehabilitate the facilities and stadiums that were damaged by the floods.

Shanib aspires to return the club to sports competitions, by building a strong team and paying attention to the Sunni groups, as well as developing its financial resources and enhancing its social and cultural activities.

Shanib holds a degree in law, and worked as a judge in the Derna Court, before entering political work. She currently serves as a member of the Libyan House of Representatives from the city of Derna, and chairs the Women and Children Affairs Committee in the House.

Her plans are not limited to rehabilitating the club, as she confirmed that developing women's sports will be among the priorities of the new administration, in an effort to expand women's participation in sports activities.

The election of Shennib represents a remarkable step in a sports sector in which leadership positions have remained largely reserved for men. However, the success of its experience will remain linked to its ability to overcome financial and administrative challenges, and return the Darnes Club to competition after years of crises.