THE revised format of the Qatar League, featuring more teams and matches, have yielded the desired results if one goes by the words of Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) Technical Director Hussein Imam Ali.
Till 2012, the league had a two-tier system, with six clubs in the Premier Division and five in First Division.
Last season, the QVA merged both divisions and made it a single-tier format, which saw 11 teams competing on a home-and-away basis.
“Last season saw a change in pattern on the domestic scene. Al Rayyan ended Al Arabi’s supremacy en route to regaining the Qatar League after a gap of five years. But more importantly, there was a stage in the league when at least four clubs were in with an equal chance of winning the title,” said Hussein Imam, who thinks the league has grown in stature after the revised format was introduced.
“Initially, it was very difficult to convince everybody about the new format. Many were apprehensive about playing too many matches. But now, when we look at how things went on, our decision looks vindicated,” added Hussein Imam, who is also a member of the FIVB Coaches Commission.
Close contests have been the norm this season as well and Hussein Imam attributes it to a variety of factors.
“The presence of quality professional players is a big reason. Some of the league players have played in the European and World Championships. So naturally, the standard has increased. That has also resulted in improved show from the local players,” he said.
The marked improvement shown by minnows like Al Shamal, Al Wakrah and Al Gharafa won praise from the QVA official.
“Last season, Shamal failed to win a single set. This year, they’ve started winning matches and have even stretched top teams to five sets. The more you play against quality teams, the better.
“Earlier, it was a case of two teams dominating and we had too many one-sided matches. The revised Qatar League format has created a level playing field,” he concluded.
* Source: Doha Stadium Plus