New era for Bahrain Volleyball begins under Joksimovic

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s national men’s volleyball team depart for Doha today chasing a third GCC Games gold medal, and the opportunity to begin a new era under coach Ivan Joksimovic with silverware.

The GCC Games, running until May 22, brings together the six Gulf nations across 19 sports, with volleyball expected to be one of the headline competitions. Played in a round-robin format, every match could prove decisive in the race for the podium.

Bahrain arrive in Qatar with one of the strongest records in the competition’s history. The team claimed gold at the inaugural 2011 edition on home soil and again in Dammam in 2015, before settling for silver behind hosts Qatar in Kuwait City in 2022.

This year also marks the start of a new chapter under Montenegrin coach Ivan Joksimovic, who succeeds Frenchman Arnaud Josserand. Josserand oversaw one of Bahrain’s most successful periods, delivering multiple regional and continental titles during his tenure.

Joksimovic enters the tournament in strong form after guiding Dar Kulaib to an unbeaten domestic league title, and now faces the challenge of sustaining Bahrain’s regional dominance on the international stage.

The delegation is led by Abduljalil Fateel, chairman of the national teams committee, alongside team manager Ali Al Sayed. The technical staff includes assistant coach Mishal Turki, statistician Mustafa Abdullah, fitness coach Anis Al Shayeb, and physiotherapist Rami Al Murbati.

Bahrain have named a 17-player squad for the tournament in Doha. The setters are Ali Habib and Mahmood Abdulwahid. Outside hitters and opposites include Ali Ibrahim, Mohammed Al Khabbaz, Hussain Mansoor, Hassan Al Shakhouri, and Sayed Hashim Isa.

In the middle-blocking department are Hassan Ali Al Warqaa, Abbas Abdullah Sultan, Mahmood Al Affia, and Ahmed Sadiq, while Ayman Haroona is listed as libero. The remaining squad members — Hussain Abdullah Sultan, Hani Al Alawi, Mahmood Abdulhussain, Mohammed Jassim, and Abdullah Mohammed Jaafar — provide additional depth and rotation options.

The team opens its campaign on Saturday, May 16, against Oman, before facing the United Arab Emirates a day later. Fixtures against Kuwait, hosts Qatar, and Saudi Arabia will complete a demanding schedule that could ultimately decide the medal standings.

With defending champions Qatar and improving regional rivals in the mix, Bahrain’s pursuit of another GCC Games title promises to be one of their toughest tests yet.