TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA AL GHARAFA Club topped the fifth and last skills assessment cum competition held during the Mini Volleyball Festival on Saturday.

At the Qatar Volleyball Association indoor hall, Gharafa and El Jaish both were tied at 26 points but the former’s under-11 boys emerged the winners on better points quotient.

Al Ahli took the third place behind Gharafa and Jaish.

At the prize distribution ceremony, QVA Board Member Ali Ghanem al Kuwari was the chief guest and handed the trophies and medals to winners.

This was the final Mini Volleyball Festival of the season, aimed at developing the sport at the grass-root level by involving young boys. The volleyball festivals are divided in three segments of different age groups, according to Dr Ali Mostafa Taha, the Technical Secretary at the Competition Committee.

“Those who are born between 2000-2001 and after are placed in Mini Volleyball Festival A group .This group has 10 teams. The second group players are born in and after 2002-2003. This also has 10 teams. The third and final group is a combination of centres and schools, having seven teams in the 2002- 2003 group,” informed Dr Ali.

“During the season, the players were trained at different clubs by the QVA coaches.

At specific intervals, the Festivals were held to evaluate the progress of the participants and their teams. The coached and players were also honoured to recognise the good work and encourage others to follow them,” said Dr Ali.

“More than 100 players figured in this particular Festival, representing 10 different clubs of Qatar – Al Gharafa, El Jaish, Al Arabi, Al Sadd, Qatar Sports Club, Al Ahli, Al Khor, Al Shamal, Al Wakrah and Al Rayyan,” according to the QVA official.

All the players contested in the league matches, played over seven courts at the QVA Hall in about two-hour duration.

Many players displayed good levels of skills, game sense and team work. As coaches clapped and hugged after the matches, players also celebrated points with high fives and cheered when coaches were honoured.

At the end of the Festival, four coaches and 10 players were selected for the prizes.

Best coaches – 1.Hilal al Rawi (El Jaish) and Rami al Miladi (Al Rayyan). Both were rated the best in the previous festivals also.

2.Jafar al Sunushi (Al Arabi) and Mamdouh Ali (Al Shamal).

Best players 1.Mohammad Musa (El Jaish) 2.Abdul Rahman Tariq (Rayyan) 3.Mohammad Jamal (Al Khor) 4.Osama al Kilany (Qatar Sports Club) 5.Hamza Mohammad (Al Arabi) 6.Mohammad Khalid (Al Gharafa) 7.Tayar Mohammad (Al Sadd) 8.Ahmad Mubarak (Al Shamal) 9.Hamad Abdullah (Al Ahli) 10.Abdullah Khalid (Wakrah)