Dar Kulaib, Najma spikers set for title bid

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain clubs Dar Kulaib and Al Najma will be flying the Kingdom’s flag in the upcoming 42nd Arab Clubs Volleyball Championship, which is scheduled to get underway tomorrow in Amman.

Dar Kulaib and Najma are part of a 12-team field that will be vying for medals in the tournament.

Bahrain league champions Dar Kulaib have been drawn in Group B for the preliminary round, along with Qatar’s Police SC, Libya’s Asswehly SC, Iraq’s North Refineries SC, Kuwait’s Burgan SC and Jordan’s Eira Club.

Najma are in Group A along with Oman’s Seeb, Libya’s Al Ahly Benghazi, Kuwait’s Kazma, Qatar’s Qatar SC and Shabab Al Hussein of Jordan.

Baniyas Club from the UAE and South Gas SC of Iraq were also set to join, but had withdrawn their participation at the last minute.

All teams will be in action every day from tomorrow. Dar Kulaib are set to begin their tournament campaign tomorrow against Eira at 4pm, while Najma take on Seeb at 1pm.

On Wednesday, Dar Kulaib face Burgan at 1pm, and Najma take on Shabab Al Hussein at 7pm.

On Thursday, Dar Kulaib play North Refineries at 1pm, while Najma take on Kazma at 7pm. On Friday, Dar Kulaib and Asswehly clash at 1pm and Najma play Al Ahly Benghazi at 4pm.

Both Bahraini sides complete their preliminary round campaigns on Saturday, with Dar Kulaib facing Police SC at 1pm and Najma taking on Najma playing Qatar SC at 4pm.

The top four teams advance to the quarter-finals, which will be held on February 26, to be followed by the semi-finals the following day.

The final and game for third place will be held on the tournament’s final day on February 28. Both Dar Kulaib and Najma have already arrived at the Jordanian capital for the championship.

Dar Kulaib will be relying on their top players Mohammed Yaqoob, Ali Mohammed, Hassan Alaiwi, Ali Habib, Hassan Al Warqa, Abdulla Mohammed, Mahmoud Abdulwahed and Brazilian professional Caio Oliveira.

They have bolstered their side for the tournament with the signing of Russian import Aleksey Karpenko. Najma, meanwhile, will be spearheaded by Fadhel Abbas, Hassan Dhahi, Hussain Mahdi, Mahmood Hassan and Swedish import Jacob Link, among other players.

They too have reinforced their side for the tournament with the signing of young Bahrain national team star Sayed Hashem Issa.

Bahrain were represented in last year’s tournament held in Cairo by Al Nasser, who came away with the silver medals after losing to home side Al Ahly 0-3 (12-25, 10-25, 19-25).

They were the only team from the Kingdom to take part in the competition.