Lebanese street basketball builds communities and bridges divides
(Picture: Spencer Osberg)
Karim Sheaib is playing for love. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, raised on the streets of Philadelphia, Karim played basketball like it was his job since he was 13 in the Cypriot national league. After a fight with the commissioner, however, he was barred from playing and left basketball for two years. Now, he’s back on the court here, at Bourj Hammoud’s municipal basketball courts, and angling for the grand prize – a trip to Copenhagen to play against the best teams from Egypt and Denmark in the international finals. It’s his best chance to reunite with the Danish girl that got away.
