Men, too
EGYPT'S men's volleyball team booked the first African ticket to the World Volleyball Championship in Japan next year. Inas Mazhar reports from Alexandria where the squad met success .
Last week, Egypt's women won the African volleyball qualifications, meaning a trip to the world championships in Japan next year.
In Alexandria, the men's team had to wait a little bit longer but in the end did the same.
The men beat Sudan, Congo DR and Cameroon in three straight wins to book the first African men's ticket to the finals in Japan.
Thirteen African teams divided into four groups are currently taking part in the world qualifications that run from January to August this year. Only two teams will represent the continent in the finals in Japan. Besides Egypt, the second country has yet to be decided.
The Egyptians lost only one set during the round-robin tournament, to Cameroon. In all, the Pharaohs beat Congo DR 3-0, Cameroon 3-1, then outclassed Sudan 3-0.
Veselin Vukovic, Egypt's head coach, said he was satisfied with the results. "First, the qualification to the world championship, then the improvement in the performance of the players. I have only two experienced players, team captain Maged Mustafa and Hamdi El-Safi. The others are still young, between 19 and 21 years old."
Added Vukovic: "the Cameroonian team is very tough and has very skillful players."
Head coach of Sudan Alexander Karikov, in his post for three months, said his team wasn't as good as the Egyptians or the Cameroonians and that he had expected the result. "They won the first group in January and beat Uganda, Ghana and Eritrea because the group was weak, not as strong as this one," Karikov said. "Volleyball in Sudan needs some time to develop and we are working on that."
Egyptian volleyball will have a short time-off after which the team will start preparing for the Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia, the Emirates Championship, the University Games and the African Championship.
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