DETROIT (9/19/13) – Former forward of the University of Detroit Mercy men's soccer team,
Moustafa Bazzi '12 will continue competing on the pitch as he has signed to play professionally with Nejmeh Sporting Club in Lebanon.
Nejmeh Sporting Club is considered as one of the glorious Football teams in Lebanon. The story started when some Beiruti young men met together in 1945, and decided to establish a Football Club that not only competes in sports competitions but also aims to serve the moral standards, contribute to build a strong Lebanese Society, and guide the young generations towards a better future.
In the club's 66 year history, Nejmeh Sporting Club has captured seven Lebanese Championships, five Lebanese Cups, seven, Elite Cups, four Super Cups, finished third in the Arab Champions Cup in 1985 and were the Arab Cup of Cup Winners in 1998, placed second in the AFC Cup in 2005, while being named the best team in Asia in March 2000.
"Honestly it hasn't even hit me yet, its crazy," said the new member of Nejmeh Sporting Club. "I trained my whole life, I came into college soccer knowing I would love to play soccer my entire life, but I didn't know if that was going to happen. That's why I made sure I was taking care of my academic work, but once it became a reality that I would continue playing soccer after college that's all I want to do now," Bazzi added.
Bazzi came to Detroit after playing one year of varsity soccer at Fordson High School where he earned FHS Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2008.
"Coming into UDM I was 16, it was a big transition," Bazzi explained. "Big change for me, and Nick [Deren], got the defensive side out of me. I played attacking my whole life, but Nick helped me in an area that needed to be pushed," said Bazzi.
During his time as a member of the Titan soccer program, Bazzi was a key contributor of the 2012 squad that captured the programs first Horizon League Regular Season Championship since 2005. During the championship season, Bazzi played in 16 games and made eight starts. The forward totaled 15 shots with eight being on goal, and added one assist.
During his junior year, Bazzi finished the season with two goals and four points while making an appearance in all 15 games for the Titans. As a sophomore, the forward participated in 17 games, making three starts and scored his first career goal against Furman.
"My dad coached me my whole life, he gave me the freedom to express myself on the field," said Bazzi. "Also, I want to thank Nick, because the defensive ability, I needed that and that's what Nejmeh saw when I went down there to perform for them," Bazzi concluded.
The University of Detroit Men's soccer team will be in action twice this weekend at home. The Titans will face Buffalo on Friday, Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. and another match with Canisius on Sunday Sept. 22 at 11 a.m., before beginning Horizon League competition next Saturday against Milwaukee.
