Bahrain’s Najma bolster line-up for Gulf, Asian clubs handball

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s Al Najma have reinforced their line-up for their upcoming back-to-back major competitions in the coming weeks. The Bahrain champions have signed long-time national team captain Hussain Al Sayyad and the French national team pairing of brothers Olivier Nyokas and Alix Kevynn Nyokas. The trio have signed on to compete with Najma in the 38th Gulf Clubs Men’s Handball Championship, in which they begin their campaign tomorrow.

They are then set to play in the 24th Asian Men’s Club League Championship in Hyderabad, India from June 22 to 30. Al Sayyad and the Nyokas pair join an already formidable Najma side that includes national team standouts Mohammed Abdulhussain, Hassan Shehab, Bilal Basham, Mahdi Saad, Komail Mahfoodh and Mohammed Mirza, to name a few.

Najma are in Group B for the Gulf event alongside Mudhar of Saudi Arabia and Al Salmiya of Kuwait. Group A comprises Al Kuwait SC, Muscat from Oman, Al Jazeera from the UAE and Al Ahly from Qatar. The Bahrainis first play Mudhar tomorrow before facing off with Salmiya the following evening. The top two teams at the end of a single round-robin will march through to the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, for the Asian clubs competition later this month, Najma have been drawn in Group B along with Al Kuwait of Kuwait, Al Safa of Saudi, Mes Kerman of Iran and Al Wakra of Qatar. Group A consists of just four teams, including Al Noor of Saudi, Al Qadsia of Kuwait, Al Arabi of Qatar and T Sports Club of hosts India.

Najma play their first game of the competition on June 22 against Safa. They then face off with Kuwait the following day, before playing Mes Kerman on June 24. Their final group fixture will then be on June 26 against Wakra. The top two teams from both groups move on to the last four, while the next two play in the consolation round for their final classification. The competition also acts as a qualifying event for the International Handball Federation (IHF) Super Globe.