VOLLEYBALL – Bahrain is set to host the third West Asian Clubs Volleyball Championship for Men next month, with Al Ahli to fly the kingdom’s flag in the competition.
The tournament is being organised by the Bahrain Volleyball Association in co-operation with the West Asia Volleyball Association.
It is set to feature seven teams from across the region and matches will be played at Isa bin Rashid Volleyball Arena at Isa Sports City in Riffa.
Ahli are joined in the event by Al Arabi and Al Rayyan of Qatar, Northern Refineries from Iraq, Al Qadsia and Kuwait SC of Kuwait, and Al Salam of Oman.
The competition is set to be played in league format over seven matchdays, with three games set to take place each day from 3pm onwards.
Ahli get their campaign underway on opening night on February 7 against Salam. They then take on Rayyan the following evening and then play Kuwait on February 9.
Following a rest day for all teams, Ahli resume their title bid on February 11 against Arabi and then lock horns with Northern Refineries the next evening.
Another rest day will be held on February 13 and then Ahli play their final fixture on February 14 against Qadsia.
Should they be in title contention, Ahli will have to wait to learn of their championship fate on February 15 when the final evening of matches is held, with the Bahrainis having a bye. The six other participating clubs will be in action that day.
Ahli are one of the top volleyball clubs in Bahrain and the region. They are led by a formidable line-up that includes international stars Ali Ebrahim, Mohammed Anan, Hani Allawi, Sayed Mohammed Al Abbar, Hasan Haider, Mahmood Abdulhussain, Hussain Sultan, Ayman Haroona, and Hussain Mansoor, to name a few.
Ahli are guided by Bahrain’s senior men’s national team head coach Jorge Elgueta, who is a former Olympian for his home country Argentina.
The West Asian championship is the latest major regional volleyball tournament set to be hosted by the kingdom. Last year, Bahrain successfully organised three big events in volleyball, including the fourth AVC Challenge Cup for Men and the 15th Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championship, held in cooperation with the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC).
Then, last November, the kingdom staged the 23rd Arab Men’s Volleyball Championship with the Arab Volleyball Association – a tournament in which the national team won the coveted title.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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