Al Ahli open WAVA campaign with straight-sets win

Bahrain’s Al Ahli began their fourth WAVA Men’s Clubs Volleyball Championship campaign with a 3–0 victory over Qatar’s Al Wakrah SC in Kuwait City. The match, played at the Kuwaiti Volleyball Federation Hall, ended 25-20, 25-22, 25-19 in favour of the Kingdom’s representatives.

Drawn in Group B alongside Al Wakrah, Lebanon’s Club Jeunesse Sportif (CJS) Batroun, and hosts Kuwait SC, Al Ahli dominated all three sets in their opener. Experienced players Mohammed Anan, Sayed Mohammed Al Abbar, and Mahmood Abdulhussain led the team, which controlled play despite a brief stoppage at 22-20 in the second set following a disputed point.

Brazilian coach Renato Castro praised the team’s performance: “Everyone contributed. We showed confidence and composure across all sets.”

Al Ahli, competing for the third consecutive edition of WAVA’s premier men’s clubs tournament, narrowly missed the podium in 2024, finishing fourth. Their squad includes several current and former Bahrain senior national team players, including Ali Ebrahim, Hani Alawi, Hasan Haider, Ayman Harwana, Hussain Mansoor, and Hussain Sultan.

Dar Kulaib, Bahrain’s other representatives, will start their campaign today against Oman’s Al Seeb at 2pm, after yesterday’s preparatory practice in Kuwait City. Kenyan professional Enock Mogeni said: “We train every day as if it’s game day. Everyone is coming for one mission – just to win.”

The top two teams from each pool, plus the two best third-placed sides, advance to the quarter-finals on 10 February. Semifinals are scheduled for 12 February, with finals on 14 February. Al Ahli’s next matches are against CJS Batroun tomorrow at 2pm and Kuwait SC on Sunday at 6pm, Bahrain time.