Al Rayyan win Emir Volleyball Cup Title
DOHA, May 13, 2018 - Al Rayyan defeated Al Ahli in straight sets to win the prestigious Emir Cup, their unprecedented sixth title of the season on Saturday.
At the Qatar Volleyball Association Indoor Hall, Carlos Schwanke's boys maintained their domination over their rivals as they won the match 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-19) in 74 minutes to lift the prestigious trophy and earn QR500,000 in prize money. Al Ahli, who were playing a final after a gap of 22 years, received QR300,000 as runners-up.
Rayyan had opened the season with a Super Cup win over Police, and later continued the domination by grabbing three more domestic titles including the QVA League, the Qatar National Tournament and the Qatar Cup. They also emerged supreme in the Arab Clubs Championship defeating Tunisia's Esperance in Tunis.
Yesterday's triumph maintained Rayyan's upper hand over Ahli. Coming into Saturday's final, the two teams had clashed twice in a final of a tournament, with Rayyan winning the 1988-89 Emir Cup and the 1994-95 Heir Apparent Cup, which was changed to Qatar Cup a few season ago.
Rayyan suffered only one loss this season – a defeat at the hands of Qatar Sports Club during the Qatar Cup playoffs but bounced back to knock out the rivals 2-1 to enter the final and eventually win it too.
“I'm proud of my team and of what we did in the season. I just told them to work hard and the results will follow automatically. The result in the final tonight is proof of that. We won all the tournaments that we played in," Al Rayyan coach Carlos Schwanke said.
Rayyan have a chance to win yet another title in July-August in Myanmar this year when they will participate in the Asian Clubs Championship.
For Rayyan, French star Earvin N'Gapeth scored a game-high 22 points, including 18 from his attack play. Marcus also played well to collect 13, while captain Mubarak Dahi Waleed added 11.
Geraldo Goiano was the best scorer for Al Ahli with 12, while Slovenia star and N'Gapeth's Modena Volley teammate Tine Urnaut scored 10.
Schwanke gave credit for the titles to his boys. “These players are amazing. I showed them the dreams, but they put in a great effort. They tried to do better in each session and every match. We did not expect a clean sweep. We took the game to new levels by bringing to matches what we did for hours in training. I am really very happy and proud of my team's performance."
However, Rayyan skipper Waleed praised the role of their Brazilian coach in the team's success.
“Our coach has done a wonderful job with the team. He and his support staff were very good throughout the season and it reflects in our performance," he said.
“We had a memorable time. This is the sixth title of the season. People think that our season has finished. However, we're waiting to go to the Asia Clubs Championship in two months, which is the most important assignment for us. Right now, we're very excited with another Amir Cup trophy," he said.
Al Ahli coach Igor Arbutina chose to pick up some positives from the road to the final.
“We had a difficult season but we're proud of reaching the final of the most prestigious volleyball event in Qatar. We played the semi-finals without Geraldo. But the entire team played as one unit. I'm really happy about my team. We did well to get past strong rivals like Police in the quarter-finals and then Qatar Sports Club. I'm sure this will prove a big boost for the future."
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