Nasser make winning start in Arab volleyball

TDT | Manama                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Bahrainis make easy work of Al Sadaqa VC of Palestine in three-set sweep. Bahrain’s Al Nasser made a winning start to their campaign in the 41st Arab Clubs Volleyball Championship for Men, which got underway yesterday in Egypt.

The Bahrainis enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-17) sweep of Al Sadaqa VC of Palestine in their opening fixture in Group A.

Nasser had a slow start and trailed midway through the first set, but found their groove and rallied to take the 1-0 lead.

They then rode their momentum into the next two sets and never let their opponents in the fight.

Following the last-minute withdrawal of five teams from the original field of 16, the Arab Volleyball Association re-conducted the draw with the remaining participating squads.

They have been divided into two groups. Nasser and Sadaqa are in Group A along with Al Ahli SC of Qatar, Almeena VC of Yemen, Asswehly SC of Libya and Kazma SC of Kuwait.

Group B includes Al Wakrah SC of Qatar, Kibel of Yemen, Bani Yas of the UAE, Al Seeb of Oman and Al Ahly SC of Egypt.

Nasser were led in the match by top Bahrain international players Mohammed Yaqoob and Ali Ebrahim, whom they signed for the competition from Bahrain’s Dar Kulaib and Al Najma, respectively.

Also making key contributions for Nasser yesterday were team captain Younes Abdulkarim, Ebrahim Mohammed, Mohammed Jassim, Mohammed Omar, Yousef Khaled and Jassim Al Turki.

The rest of the Nasser squad coached by Brazilian Sergio Luis Cunha includes Jassim Hamza, Ahmed Issa, Ali Sultan, Mohammed Mirza, Hussain Al Haiki, Hussain Al Jashi, Hussain Mohammed, Mohammed Jaffar and Yousef Mohammed Tahir.

Nasser are back in action today at 3pm against Asswehly.

Tomorrow they take on Kazma at 7pm, and then following a rest day on Thursday, go up against Ahli on Friday, also at 7pm.

Their final group game will be against Almeena on Saturday at 5pm. Nasser must finish in the top four of their group to advance past this first stage.