Najma clinch Gulf clubs handball title

TDT | Manama           

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s Al Najma were last night crowned champions of the 38th Gulf Clubs Men’s Handball Championship, which came to a close in Kuwait City. The Bahrainis won the coveted title following a resounding 39-24 victory over Mudhar of Saudi Arabia in the tournament final.

Najma dominated the contest and led by as many as 15 goals in the second half. Following the gold medal game, Najma were awarded the champions’ trophy and their respective medals in a ceremony attended by Bahrain Handball Association president Ali Issa.

With the result, the national champions added another feather to their cap with the Gulf crown. They have now won the coveted clubs’ championship six times. Their triumph ended a two-decade title drought, as their previous victories came in 2001, 1998, 1990, 1985 and 1984.

Najma had also won the competition’s silver medals thrice in 2006, 2004 and 1999; while taking bronze twice in 2003 and 1982. Mahdi Saad finished as the leading scorer for the Bahrainis with seven goals from eight attempts.

Hussain Al Sayyad, Ali Eid and Bilal Basham added six apiece for Najma, while Mohammed Habib Nasser chipped in with five goals. Komail Mahfoudh added another three, Hasan Shehab scored two, while Saud Aljunaid and the French international tandem of Olivier Nyokas and Alix Kevynn Nyokas all finished with a goal apiece.

Control After a 2-2 start, Najma went on an 8-3 run to take control of the contest. They continued to hold a comfortable advantage leading up to the half and headed into the locker rooms up 18-12. In the second 30-minute period, the Bahrainis were dominant and never wavered.

A Saad goal on a fastbreak just seven minutes after the restart gave them their first double-digit lead, 24-14. They then continued to build the gap over the last quarter-hour and four successive goals from Basham, Saad, Mahfoudh and Nasser put them up by 15, 36-21, for the first time.

Najma cruised the rest of the way and Mahfoudh applied the nail in the coffin with a goal right before the final buzzer. Bahrain national team star Mohammed Habib was playing for Mudhar. He finished with four goals.

Hassan Aljanaby was their leading scorer with seven. With the Gulf clubs title in the bag, Najma now set their sights on the 24th Asian Men’s Club League Championship, taking place in Hyderabad, India from June 22 to 30.