Al-Rayyan attack Gas Al-Janoob
Yazd, Iran, September 14, 2024 – As the 2024 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship nears its exciting conclusion, the classification matches for 5th to 8th places took center stage on Saturday.
Gas Al-Janoob from Iraq secured 6th place after a hard-fought battle with Al-Rayyan Sports of Qatar, while Kam Air of Afghanistan made history by finishing 7th, marking their best-ever result in the tournament. Kuwait Sporting Club, unfortunately, went winless throughout the championship, finishing 8th.
Kam Air
Kam Air Triumph Over Kuwait Sporting Club For 7th Place
The first match of the day saw Afghanistan’s Kam Air take on Kuwait Sporting Club in a battle for 7th place. Kam Air, playing in their fifth appearance at the Asian Club Championship, overcame their Kuwaiti opponents in four sets, winning 3-1 (25-19, 25-20, 23-25, 29-27).
This victory marked Kam Air’s second win of the tournament, following their earlier victory against Gas Al-Janoob, and solidified their highest-ever ranking, surpassing their previous finishes of 12th in 2011 and 2012, 14th in 2023, and 15th in 2015.
Head coach Hamid Movahedi of Kam Air praised his team’s resilience, emphasizing the difficulties they faced in preparing for the tournament.
“Our team entered this competition with limited resources compared to other teams. The Afghanistan Volleyball Federation worked tirelessly to ensure we could participate and gain valuable experience. Competing against some of the strongest clubs in Asia, many of whom had foreign players, our national team-only squad showed great determination. I’m proud of our players’ efforts, and we look forward to improving further in future competitions.”
Kam Air’s libero, Sabawoon Ghorzang, echoed his coach’s sentiments, expressing gratitude to the team’s supporters.
“The game was very challenging, but we were fortunate to win today and secure 7th place. I would like to thank the Afghanistan Volleyball Federation and our sponsors for supporting us, even in difficult circumstances. This result motivates us to strive for even better achievements in the future.”
Despite the loss, Kuwait Sporting Club used the match as a learning opportunity. Head coach Taner Atik reflected on the experience, saying, “It was a good game, and although we faced some challenges towards the end, we’ve made progress. Our goal in participating in this tournament was to prepare our team for upcoming league matches, and I believe we have achieved that goal. Overall, the tournament was very well-organized, and we look forward to continuing our development.”
Middle blocker Soud Alduwaisan from Kuwait Sporting Club acknowledged the challenges his team faced, particularly with injuries. “It was a tough match, and we couldn’t perform at our best. However, we made the most of this opportunity to prepare for future competitions and enjoyed the experience.”
Al-Rayyan block Gas-Janoob
Al-Rayyan Sports Club Edge Gas Al-Janoob To Claim 5th Place
In the second classification match, Al-Rayyan Sports Club from Qatar faced Gas Al-Janoob of Iraq in a battle for 5th and 6th place. Al-Rayyan emerged victorious, winning 3-1 (20-25, 27-25, 25-17, 28-26) and securing 5th place in the tournament.
The match was closely contested, with both teams showing signs of fatigue after a grueling tournament schedule. Al-Rayyan’s three wins came against Kam Air, Kuwait Sporting Club, and today’s match against Gas Al-Janoob, while Gas Al-Janoob finished 6th with wins over Al-Rayyan in the preliminary round and Kam Air of Afghanistan.
Al-Rayyan’s head coach Morad Sennoun acknowledged the physical toll on both teams. “Today’s match was not as intense as earlier ones due to fatigue on both sides, but we’re happy to come away with the win. Both teams had their chances, but we capitalized when it mattered most.”
Middle blocker Ahmed Gamal Noaman praised his team’s endurance throughout the competition. “It was a difficult game, especially after the eight matches we’ve played so far. But we pushed through, and I’m proud of our team’s performance. As for the upcoming final, I believe Shahdab Yazd has a great chance to win the championship because of their strong team dynamic and the support of their home fans.”
Gas Al-Janoob’s head coach Alaa Khalaf congratulated Al-Rayyan on their victory but expressed disappointment with some aspects of the match.
“First, I want to congratulate my friend Milad Taghavi on becoming a board member of the Asian Volleyball Confederation. I believe he will help raise the level of Iranian volleyball. As for today’s match, it was very close, but unfortunately, the result did not go our way. I’m particularly disappointed with the referees, especially in the second set, where a referee’s mistake on a challenge call affected the outcome. Nevertheless, I congratulate Al-Rayyan on their performance. They are a strong team, and I wish them success.”
Gas Al-Janoob middle blocker Ibrahim Mudhafar Rashid shared his thoughts on the tournament and the day’s match.
“In our first match against Al-Rayyan, we won, but today we couldn’t perform at the same level, and they deserved the victory. I predict Shahdab Yazd will win the final, possibly 3-0, thanks to their home advantage and strong support from their fans.”
Upcoming Matches On Final Day
As the classification matches wrapped up, attention now turns to the final day of the Asian Men’s Club Championship on September 15. The schedule is as follows:
14:00pm: Bronze Medal Match – Pavlodar Volleyball Club (Kazakhstan) vs Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi (Indonesia)
17:00pm: Championship Match – Shahdab Yazd (Iran) vs Foolad Sirjan Iranian (Iran)
The local team, Shahdab Yazd, will face off against fellow Iranian powerhouse Foolad Sirjan in a highly anticipated all-Iranian final. Both teams are well-prepared, and with Shahdab’s home-court advantage, fans are eager to see if they can secure the title in front of their passionate supporters.
MATCH SCHEDULE
FINAL RANKING
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