The QVA League is now on the home stretch. Only nine matches are left before the champions of the 2016-17 season are determined. The leaderboard, with Police on the top, looks a bit heavy as there are four teams within the striking distance.
Police, who have finished runners-up twice as their best performance in the League, have been occupying the top for a long time. At the moment, they have collected 48 points from 16 wins and two losses.
Defending champions Al Arabi Club are pursuing the leaders hotly along with El Jaish. The 25-time winners Al Arabi and the army team, whose best finish has been third place two times, are both locked at 45 points each.
In the fourth spot are eight-time winners Al Rayyan Club, who infused a new life into their campaign after edging Al Arabi Club in five sets in the last match. As a matter of fact, these are the only four out of 11 teams who have a realistic chance of laying their hands on the crown, come February 15, the final day of the League.
Among the leading quartet, Police and Al Arabi Club face an uphill road to the title and their last two clashes can be their make or break matches. The former have to contend with surging Al Rayyan Club on February 10 and the holders in the final clash of the League.
Al Arabi are first pitted against El Jaish and their 19th round match on February 11 can prove decisive. Should they win, they can just hope to bring home another League title, going into their last match against Police.
On the contrary, if Al Rayyan and El Jaish can clinch their 19th round games, they can also challenge for the title as the former are to take on a weak Al Shamal in their final League match and the latter are to face Qatar Sports Club before they wind up their campaign.
Another twist to the tale is that all these teams must not drop a point in the remaining two clashes as it can seriously jeopardise their prospects of winning the League. So after a long time, such a thrilling scenario is developing in the QVA League and it will be El Jaish whose credentials will be put to test on Wednesday when they lock horns with Qatar Sports Club.
Fixtures

February 8 (Al Arabi hall)
5:45 pm – Qatar SC vs El Jaish
7:00 pm – Al Wakra vs Al Gharafa
February 8 (Al Arabi hall)
5:45 pm – Al Shamal vs Al Khor
7:00 pm – Police SC vs Al Rayyan
February 10 (Al Arabi hall)
5:45 pm – Al Ahli vs Al Gharafa
7:00 pm – El Jaish vs Al Arabi
February 13 (Al Arabi hall)
5:45 pm – Al Shamal vs Al Rayyan
7:00 pm – Al Khor vs Qatar SC
February 15 (Al Arabi hall)
6:00 pm – Police SC vs Al Arabi