Najma crowned Bahrain - UAE Super Cup champions

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Al Najma were last night crowned champions of the Bahrain-UAE Handball Super Cup 2022.

The Bahraini handball giants clinched the title following a hard-earned 27-24 win against Emirati representatives Sharjah Club in the single-game event, which was held at the Bahrain Handball Association arena in Um Al Hassam.

Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority president and Bahrain Olympic Committee chief His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa attended the game.

There were also a number of Bahrain and UAE handball officials, and they presented the Super Cup to Najma team members.

With the result, Najma won back-to-back titles in the Bahrain-UAE Super Cup, and also claimed it for the fourth time in its five editions. The home side were the aggressors of the contest from the opening throw.

They took an early lead and went ahead 14-9 at the half behind some strong play from Mohammed Habib Nasser, Mohammed Mirza, Belel Basham, Ahmed Mirza, Mohammed Abdulredha and goalkeeper Mohammed Abdulhussain, to name a few.

After the opening 10 minutes in the second half, Najma went up 20-13 following a Basham goal. Sharjah, however, had one last fight in them, and gradually chipped away at Najma’s advantage.

The Emiratis battled back in the last few minutes of the contest, and with less than three minutes to go got back to within just three goals, 23-26.

But Najma were quick to respond, and they did enough over the closing moments to eke out the victory. Bahraini clubs won the game all but once in its past editions.

Najma were the representatives in each of the previous games, and the only time they did not triumph was in 2019 when they played Sharjah.

The event was not held in 2020 due to the global pandemic, and then last year, Najma captured the trophy following a 27-25 result. Najma qualified for this year’s Bahrain-UAE Handball Super Cup after winning the Bahrain Super Cup against national rivals Al Ahli earlier this season.

Sharjah, on the other hand, won against Shabab Al Ahly in their local Super Cup to earn their spot.

Sharjah travelled to Bahrain with a 20-player squad, with Algerian Sufyan Haani as their head coach.