ROADBLOCK

QATAR’S preparations for the new season hit an unexpected roadblock as they were forced to pull out of the Fifth Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Cup due to injuries to key players.

Qatari spikers had started their preparations for the September 22-28 tournament at Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, in earnest by playing a few friendlies against some club sides at home. 

But with five key players — Suleiman Saeed, Mubarak Dahi Waleed, Belal Abunabout, Nader Aboubacker and Ibrahim Saeed — yet to recover from various injuries and niggles, the Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) had no other choice, but to withdraw the side.

“It’s such an important tournament. We thought players would recover in time, but they didn’t. There was no point in sending a second-string squad to such a major event. So we decided to withdraw from the competition,” said QVA President Khalid Ali Al Mawlawi.

Kazakhstan replaced Qatar in the tournament.

Of the five injured players, barring libero Suleiman, who has been suffering from a long-term knee injury, the others had featured in Qatar’s debut at the recent FIVB Men’s World League.

Key spiker Ibrahim, representing Al Arabi, is another injured player and missed their recent march into the final of the Asian Clubs Championship in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, where they lost to Iran’s Sarmayeh Bank.

“When the nucleus of the team is injured, and that too before a major competition, we just can’t afford to take a chance,” rued Qatar’s interim coach Massimilano Giaccardi.

The Italian, who was the assistant to his compatriot Roberto Piazza during the FIVB World League, stepped into the big shoes after the latter returned to coach his native club Modena. 

The AVC Cup was meant to be the first tournament for Qatar with Giaccardi at the helm, but he will have to wait for a while now. DSP