JEDDAH, 22 February 2007 - Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia qualified for the quarterfinals to be played today after beating Al-Mareikh of Sudan 3-0 in the 25th Arab Volleyball Championship for clubs in Tunisia yesterday.
Ahli won in three straight sets by 25-21, 25–22 and 25-15. Ahli played with a lot of energy from the first set though they still have to reach peak form so that Marreikh narrowed the gap somehow in the last two sets. Their performance was a total team effort, said volleyball national team manager Saleh Al-Qasem adding the boys could do better still. Their coach is young and new, he said, and he did not have enough time to work with the players. “ They indeed are capable of performing better and if they do it will be because of their efforts and not their coach.”
“We need to see more attacks and serves or else with this performance they would not reach the semifinals,” he said. After the opening day against Al-Rayyan of Qatar 3-1 Ahli racked up consecutive victories over Al-Hussain of Jordan 3-2 on Monday and Arbil team of Iraq 3-0 on Tuesday.
The championship on the Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Cup runs until Feb. 26 with 19 clubs entered. Ahli (Saudi), Al-Rayyan (Qatar), Arbil (Iraq), Al-Mareikh (Sudan) and Al-Hussain (Jordan) make up Group A. In Group B are Kathima (Kuwait), Deem Hamad (Sudan), Fanjeil (Palestine), Ahli (UAE) and Al-Najm Al-Sahili (Tunisia). Al-Nassar (UAE), Al-Seeib (Oman), Al-Ittihad (Libya) and Al-Arabi (Kuwait) comprise Group C, while Al-Tarraji (Tunisia), Al-Ahli (Libya), Al-Nassr (Bahrain), Qatar (Qatar) and Al-Sadagah (Palestine) are bracketed in Group D.
Ahli team included coach Kim, assistant coach Mohammed Kanno, team manager Ayman Tazi and team supervisor Mohammed Al-Ibri. The players are Al-Khaibary, Libro Ayman Al-Ghamdi, Abdullah Sultan, Majid Al-Jihani, Abdullah Al-Bahli, Al-Farhan, Abbas Mirio, Asaad Azouz, Hussain Al-Muaidi, Ali Al-Wadyi, Yassir Hawasawi, Rami Al-Karti and Tunisian Seif.
Meanwhile, Al-Hilal will represent Saudi Arabia in the 26th GCC Volleyball Championship for Clubs in Qatar to be held from March 15 to 21. Defending champions Hilal will open defense of their title against Al-Arabi of Qatar.
