DOHA, 17 December 2006 — Though they have been working very hard, Saudi Arabia’s volleyball team were the first to arrive and the last to leave with pride and performance having been placed third in the sport in the Asian Games.
From now on, Saudi volleyball will start receiving more attention from sports federations, the media and society. The rising stars of the team made a huge mark for themselves. “The players, the team manager and the coach are best role models for all,” Prince Nawaf ibn Muhammad, the president of the Saudi Athletics Federation, said.
“Saleh-Al-Qasem is the team manager and a promising future awaits him, and all other team managers should follow him because he sacrifices everything for his team. He was the one who gave his team a very big push of encouragement and made them believe in themselves and eventually got us the most cherished bronze medal,” said the prince.
Winning the bronze in volleyball at the Asian Games proves that whenever a Saudi team is given the support and chance to compete they will do it with honor. He said that he would make sure that the support was extended to them so that they would make it to Beijing Olympics in 2008.
The victory also brought smile on the face of team’s Serbian coach Radoslav Svircev as it was probably one of the biggest achievements of his coaching career.
“All for one and one for all” is how Saudi journalists described the performance after watching the volleyball team this year.
“If they continue with this spirit and the team, the game will become popular in the Kingdom and bring even better results than in football,” said Ibrahim Mohammed, Saudi sports journalist at Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper. “We’ve had a Saudi team better than ever, although they came from the Arabian Championship for Volleyball in Bahrain in which they were placed 2nd and then moved to a training camp. Two of their best players Yahya Hanash and Tamer Al-Jihani were unable to participate due to injuries. “They got the bronze medal but for us it’s a gold medal,” Mohammed said.
Khalaf Malfi, who heads the sports section at Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper said that it was an admirable achievement to beat Japan and India. “We made history, because these countries have been champions before. Our team will be a great example for others to emulate, especially as we excelled in team spirit and performance.”
“So we request that the National Olympic Committee should offer more financial support and help to this sport and this team in every possible manner,” Malfi said, adding, “The Kingdom should have more volleyball league matches, as these will help our participation in overseas leagues.” It’s also the clubs’ responsibility to give more attention to this game. As of Dec. 14, the Saudi volleyball team is placed 3rd among the best spikers scoring with 711 total attempts. The Saudis are also placed 6th at the blockers scoring with 354 total attempts at the Asian Games 2006.
Ahmed Bakhet was placed 9th best among spikers and Esmael Al-Khaibary 5th best among blockers. At the best setters, 6th place went to Al-Bahrani Khalel while 5th place as the best receiver went to Ahmed Bakhet. Ibrahim Al-Harbi was also placed 7th as best libero.
