Coaches and Players Reflect on the Match Between Iraq and Qatar

Coach of Gas Al-Janoob Volleyball Team: “We Defeated Qatar for the First Time”

According to the communications department of the Volleyball Federation, the 26th Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship commenced today (Sunday, September 8) at the 6,000-seat Shahidieh Hall in Yazd.

In the second match of the opening day, Gas Al-Janoob faced off against Al-Rayyan, winning the match 3-1. Following the match, both coaches and players shared their thoughts on the encounter:

Alaa Khalaf, Head Coach of Gas Al-Janoob:

“We played very well today and maintained completely focused on the match. Despite the fatigue from travel, we had a good experience in a friendly match against Shadab, which is a strong team. The Qatari team seemed a bit fatigued in the first and second sets but later regained their form. Some of our players also showed signs of fatigue in the third set, which made me make substitutions. This decision allowed us to return strong in the fourth set, excelling in both defense and attack. It’s the first time in years that an Iraqi team has defeated a Qatari team, and it was a gratifying victory.”

Morad Sennoun, Head Coach of Al-Rayyan:

“I am not satisfied with our performance today; we faced challenging circumstances. We lost two players—one during friendly matches and our libero due to injury in this match. We had opportunities to come back in all four sets, but unfortunately, we couldn’t use them and ended up losing. We will prepare ourselves vigorously for the upcoming match against the Afghan team.”

Stevanovic Milos, Setter for Al-Rayyan:

“I congratulate the Iraqi team on their victory. They played exceptionally well and at a high level. We struggled to contain their attacks in the first two sets. I did not expect such a strong performance from them today; it simply wasn’t Al-Rayyan’s day. I hope we can demonstrate our true capabilities in future matches.”

Hussam Abdulsamad, Captain of the Iraqi Team:

“First and foremost, I congratulate my team. Even though we were all fatigued at the start of the game, we did our best and managed to turn things around, securing the win for our team.”