Shahdab Yazd Faces Indonesian Team in 2024 Asian Men’s Club Championship Opener, Seen as an Early Final

The 26th Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship is set to begin tomorrow, September 9, in Yazd, where the city will host some of the biggest stars in world volleyball for the next eight days. Eight teams will compete for the prestigious title.

On the opening day of the tournament, host team Shahdab Yazd will face Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi from Indonesia at 5 PM. The Indonesian team has made significant investments to ensure a strong performance in this competition.

Among their key signings is Earvin N’Gapeth, widely regarded as one of the world’s top volleyball players. N’Gapeth, who has previous experience in Iran, notably played for Peykan in 2022 during the Asian Club Volleyball Championship held in Tehran, where he earned the title of Best Outside Hitter.

With an impressive resume that includes being named Most Valuable Player of the 2022 Nations League and winning gold medals at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, N’Gapeth will be a formidable presence on the court against Shahdab Yazd.

Another notable player joining Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi is Jean Patry, who is also part of the French national team. Standing at 207cm with a spike reach of 357cm and a block reach of 334 cm, Patry has played for prominent clubs such as Galatasaray (Turkey), Jastrzębski Węgiel (Poland), and Milano (Italy). His accolades include being named the best Opposite Spiker in various international competitions.

Shahdab Yazd, on the other hand, is well-prepared to make a significant impact in this tournament. The club began its journey in Iran’s top volleyball league in 2019 but faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its second season, Shahdab finished fifth in the league.

The team claimed its first championship title in 2021 and subsequently represented Iran in the Asian Club Volleyball Championship, earning a bronze medal. Shahdab defended its league title in 2022 and secured fourth place in the 2023 Asian Club Championships held in Bahrain.

As hosts of the 2024 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship, Shahdab Yazd aims to clinch its first gold medal.

Amir Ghafour, known as the “Emperor of Iranian Volleyball,” will put on number 10 for Shahdab. He gained recognition last year after being named Best Opposite Spiker at the 2023 Asian Club Championships before briefly playing in Romania. Ghafour has returned to Shahdab this season.

Another star player, Morteza Sharifi, who shone in the 2024 Nations League, will also be on the roster. Sharifi played as a legionnaire in Turkey last year and is now ready to make his mark in Yazd. Other notable players include Alireza Maslih Abadi, Shahrooz Homayounfar Manesh, Masoud Gholami, and Mohammad Reza Moazzen.

The initial list for Shahdab also features Ilshan Davoodpour, Shayan Mehrabi, Farhad Salafzoun, Barbossa Lamonier, Amirhossein Sadaqat, Ali Asghar Mir Hosseini, Mehdi Golbadi, Nasser Rahimi Panah, Alireza Shah Ali, Mohsen Delvari, Erfan Nowruzi, Seyyed Reza Saadat Hosseini, and Younes Javan. The team will be led by coach Rahman Mohammadi Rad, with Mehdi Mahdavi—part of Iran’s golden generation—starting his coaching career alongside Mohammadi Rad at Shahdab.