Defending champions and 21-time winners Al Arabi Club are likely to clash with Police in the best of three semi-final series at the upcoming Emir’s Cup Volleyball Championship.
The Qatar Volleyball Association had a break with the past and shifted both the important Qatar Cup and Emir’s Cup to the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena in Al Sadd.
The draw was held at the QVA headquarters on Monday and it was attended by QVA officials Mohammed Ali al Mohannadi (Secretary-General), Yousef Kano (Assistant Secretary-General) and Hussein Imam Ali (Technical Director).
Ali reasoned for moving the venue to Al Sadd area, “The decision has been taken by the association in a bid to accommodate more fans for the big occasions like the finals of these two majors.
“On the final two days of the Emir’s Cup, the Communities volleyball championships semi-finals and final have been planned. So we expect a massive number of spectators to come and support their teams. At the new venue, we’d be able to host any number of fans,” he added.
The Qatar Cup, featuring the top four teams of the League, is slated to start on April 22. The final will take place on April 28 after Al Arabi take on El Jaish and Al Rayyan clash with Police over the best-of-three semi-final playoffs. After a day’s rest, the Emir’s Cup matches will commence.
The pride of place for the Emir’s Cup went naturally to League winners Al Arabi, who have claimed the title 21 times. Al Rayyan, the Emir’s Cup winners on 11 occasions, got the second seed.
In the draw, the third seed went to El Jaish and Police were seeded fourth.
Al Wakrah and Al Sadd will kick-start the Emir’s Cup at 4.30 pm, while the second match on the day is to feature Al Ahli against Al Shamal at 6.30 pm.
The semi-finals are penciled to come off on April 7, 9 and 11, while the final is scheduled at 6.30 pm.
Seedings
1.Al Arabi
2.Al Rayyan
3.El Jaish
4.Police
5.Al Gharafa
6.Al Ahli
7.Al Shamal
8.Al Khor
9.Qatar SC
10.Al Wakrah
11.Al Sadd
جدول الترتيب
April 30
4.30 pm – Al Wakrah vs Al Sadd (1)
6.30 pm – Al Ahli vs Al Shamal (2)
May 1
4.30 pm – Qatar SC vs Al Khor (3)
May 3
4.30 pm – El Jaish vs winner of 2nd match (4)
6.30 pm – Al Rayyan vs winner of 1st match (5)
May 4
4.30 pm – Police vs Al Gharafa (6)
6.30 pm – Al Arabi vs winner of 3rd match (7)
May 7 (best of three semis)
4.30 pm – Winner of 4th match vs winner of 5th match (8)
6.30 pm – Winner of 6th match vs winner of 7th match (9)
May 9
4.30 pm – Winner of 6th match vs winner of 7th match (10)
6.30 pm – Winner of 4th match vs winner of 5th match (11)
May 11
4.30 pm – Winner of 4th match vs winner of 5th match (12)
6.30 pm – Winner of 6th match vs winner of 7th match (13)
May 13 (Final)
6.30 pm – Winner of 12th match vs winner of 13th match (14)
* Written by: Raajiv Tripathi, Qatar Tribune