VOLLEYBALL – BAHRAIN’S Muharraq lost their second straight game yesterday in the 44th Arab Club Men’s Volleyball Championship, currently being played in Tunis, Tunisia.
The kingdom’s representatives bowed to home side Etoile Sportive du Sahel 1-3 (20-25, 22-25, 25-18, 23-25) in their third Group B fixture of the tournament’s preliminary round.
For the second straight contest, the Bahrainis fell behind by two sets – despite leading in the second – but fought hard to extend the match and sent it into a fourth frame. There, they led late on but fell short in the closing stages, when Etoile Sportive came up with the decisive rallies.
Muharraq were back on the court less than 24 hours after suffering a similar defeat in four sets against Al Ittihad SCSC Tripoli from Libya on Friday night.
They had previously began their tournament campaign with a three-set win over Majees SC from Oman, but have now suffered back-to-back defeats.
The Bahrainis will be aiming to get back to winning ways today when they play their penultimate fixture of this stage against Police SC from Qatar. The game is scheduled for a 1pm start, Bahrain time.
They then complete their preliminary round schedule tomorrow against Palestinian Military Club from Palestine at 3pm, also Bahrain time, which will be their fifth outing in as many days.
Muharraq, coached by Bahraini tactician Yaseen Al Meel, are one of 12 teams in the tournament. Group A of the preliminaries features Al Seeb from Oman, Northern Refineries Sport Club from Iraq, Tadjenanet from Algeria, Asswehly SC from Libya, Qatar SC from Qatar, and Esperance Sportive de Tunis representing the hosts.
They have a roster in the competition that is spearheaded by professionals Jacob Link from Sweden and Mateusz Jozwik from Poland. Their Bahraini stars include Naser Anan, Mahmood Alafyah, Sayed Hashem Issa, Mohammed Abdulla, Mohammed Omar, and Abbas Al Khabbaz, among others.
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