Page 12 - index

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2026
12

Dar Kulaib, Muharraq Nuno not focused

on own future
during West Ham
relegation fight

set for blockbuster final

TDT | Manama Dar Kulaib were forced to re-
cover after dropping the opening
ar Kulaib and Muhar- set 21–25. What followed was a Nuno Espirito Santo
raq meet tonight in sharp shift in control: they raised
Dthe 2025–26 His Royal their intensity, tightened their AFP | London
Highness the Crown Prince’s blocking, and dictated the tempo
Cup final, with the first serve to take the next two sets 25–16 est Ham manager
scheduled for 7pm at the Isa and 25–18. The fourth set turned WNuno Espirito Santo
Bin Rashid Volleyball Arena. into a tense battle, but Dar Ku- said his own future was not
The match will be followed by laib held their nerve in the clos- on his mind as he battles
the official awarding ceremony, ing points to edge it 30–28 and to save the club from rele-
bringing the curtain down on seal a 3–1 victory, booking their gation.
one of Bahrain’s most prestig- place in the final and keeping The West Ham board are
ious volleyball competitions. alive their hopes of a domestic understood to want Nuno,
This year’s final carries add- double. who signed a three-year
ed significance as it is a repeat Muharraq, by contrast, ad- deal when he was appoint-
of last season’s decider, where vanced in more clinical fashion. ed in September, to stay on
Muharraq edged Dar Kulaib in Their semi-final against Al Ahli even if they go down to the
four sets to complete a league- was a straight-sets statement of Championship.
and-cup double. That result still control, winning 25–18, 25–22, The Hammers are in 18th
lingers, but the dynamics head- 25–17. The defending champions spot, one point behind Tot-
ing into this edition feel far less looked composed throughout, tenham, with Wolves
predictable. Dar Kulaib arrive combining disciplined defense and Burnley already rele-
in strong form, buoyed by their with efficient attacking play. gated.
recent league title and a growing Swedish import Jacob Link On Sunday they have the
sense of momentum built across played a key role in maintaining daunting task of hosting
the season. their offensive rhythm, while leaders Arsenal -- survival
Adding further significance, the team’s structure and organ- is out of their hands with
tonight’s final will also mark the ization limited Al Ahli’s ability three games remaining.
last match in charge for Dar Ku- to build any sustained pressure. “I’m going to be honest
laib’s Montenegrin head coach Ali Habib celebrates during Dar Kulaib’s league victory over Muharraq last month Under the lights of Isa Bin with you -- I don’t have one
Ivan Joksimovic. He is set to de- Rashid Arena, a familiar rivalry second to think about next
part after the final to take over as national volleyball team, giving as well as a competitive one. anything but routine. In the returns to decide its next chap- season,” Portuguese coach
head coach of the Bahrain men’s vthe occasion an emotional layer Their path to the final was semi-final against Bani Jamra, ter. Nuno said yesterday.

Al Ettihad, Manama Asian Cup 2027 draw set in Diriyah

Confirm Playoff Spots TDT | Manama Pot 1 features hosts Saudi Ara-

bia alongside Japan, Iran, South
Hussain Almaskati he draw for the AFC Asian Korea, Australia, and Uzbeki-
TDT | Manama TCup 2027 takes place this stan. Pot 2 includes Qatar, Iraq,
evening in Diriyah, Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emir-
he First Division promo- Saudi Arabia, at Salwa Palace, ates, Oman, and Syria. Pot 4
Ttion race to the Nasser bin setting the stage for one of Asia’s consists of Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,
Hamad Premier League has most closely watched football North Korea, Indonesia, Sin-
been settled with one round tournaments. gapore, and the playoff winner
still to play, as last night’s re- The ceremony will bring to- between Lebanon and Yemen.
sults confirmed both automat- gether representatives from the Bahrain arrives with a history
ic promotion spots and playoff Asian Football Confederation, of competitive performances in
positions. FIFA, and all 24 qualified nations the tournament, most notably
Al Ittifaq and East Riffa had as anticipation builds across the its fourth-place finish in 2004
already secured automatic Action from Al Ettihad’s dominant continent ahead of the compe- in China. In recent years, the
promotion prior to Match- victory over Etehad Al Reef tition. team has shown consistency at
week 21 and continue to lead There was late drama at Al Saudi Arabia will host the continental level, including a
the standings, while Al Etti- Ahli Stadium, where Al Itti- tournament from 7 January to solid group-stage campaign in
had and Manama have now faq edged Al Busaiteen 2–1. 5 February 2027, with match- Bahrain men’s national football team at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar 2023.
officially booked their places Despite playing much of the es scheduled across Riyadh, With the draw set, Bahrain
in the promotion/relegation match with ten men, Al Bu- Jeddah, and Al Khobar. With Bahrain will be represented na, Palestine, Vietnam, and Ta- will now wait to see how its road
playoffs. saiteen took the lead after continental powerhouses in the at the draw by an official dele- jikistan, Bahrain is guaranteed to the 2027 tournament unfolds
East Riffa maintained their the break and looked set for mix, this edition is expected to gation as it prepares to learn its to avoid these sides in the group and whether it can mount an-
impressive form with a 4–2 victory. However, Al Ittifaq be highly competitive from the group-stage opponents. Placed stage while drawing one oppo- other memorable run on Asia’s
win over Al Hala at FIFA Sta- responded under pressure, outset. in Pot 3 alongside Thailand, Chi- nent from each of the other pots. biggest stage.
dium. They started brightly, equalising in the 84th min-
racing into a two-goal lead ute before snatching a stop-
inside 16 minutes. Al Hala page-time winner to stay top
responded after the break of the table. France’s Magnier sprints to victory in crash-hit Giro opener
to level the match, but East With one match remaining, Al
Riffa regained control with Ittifaq leads the standings with AFP | Burgas
a 51st-minute penalty before 50 points, just ahead of East Magnier, 22, claimed his first ever Grand
sealing the win in the 70th Riffa with 49; both teams have aul Magnier won the opening stage of Tour win and also became the first French-
minute. A missed late penalty already secured promotion. Pthe 2026 Giro d’Italia in Bulgaria yes- man to wear the pink jersey for the overall
from Al Hala summed up their Behind them, Al Ettihad terday in a bunch sprint, after a late crash lead since Bruno Armirail three years ago.
frustrating evening. sit third on 43 points, while left most of the peloton out of contention. “I’m so proud of the team and I’m so
The standout result came Manama are fourth on 41. France’s Magnier pipped Tobias Lund happy to be starting the Giro in such good
from Al Ettihad, who secured Although Manama were not Andresen in a frantic finish following 147 form,” said Magnier.
their playoff spot emphatically in action yesterday, results kilometres of largely flat racing from Nesse- “The finale was chaotic after an easy day
with a 5–0 victory over Etehad elsewhere confirmed their bar to Burgas, in the first of the three early for everyone, on a narrow road. Beating
Al Reef at Hamad Town Stadi- qualification. Both clubs will stages which are being held in Bulgaria. such good sprinters here makes me very
um. The match was effectively now enter the promotion/rel- The Soudal-Quick-Step rider was one of a happy.”
decided before half-time, as Al egation playoffs, where they handful of riders who were ahead of a crash Magnier, who was born in Texas and
Ettihad surged into a four-goal will face the ninth and tenth- 600 metres from the line which left the rest moved to France as a toddler, is one of his
lead. They added a fifth early placed Premier League sides of the field to roll home in the knowledge country’s young guns alongside Paul Seixas
in the second half to complete for a final chance at top-flight that they would not lose any time due the Soudal Quick-Step French rider Paul Magnier and last year clocked up 19 wins, the sec-
a dominant performance. football. proximity of the accident to the finish. celebrates as he crosses the finish line ond-highest behind Tadej Pogacar.

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