Doha: Al Gharafa Club finished their campaign in the 17th edition of the Asian Clubs’ League Championship on a winning note at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Sports Hall here yesterday.
Al Gharafa Club secured fifth place, the highest they could finish after being knocked out of the semi-finals, courtesy of a hard-fought 36-33 win over Iran’s Manyazium Ferdows Club in the 5/6-place match.
It took the Doha-based club 30 minutes before they were able to edge past the Iranians who once again displayed their trademark fighting spirit as they led 19-18 at the break. Nevertheless, a 4-0 run by Al Gharafa in the first five minutes of the second-half restored the Qataris’ position in the drivers’ seat.
After six matches in eight days, all players from both teams could barely walk in the dying minutes of the game, so it came down to experience for the winner to be decided, a factor which didn’t favour Manyazium Ferdows Club.
Speaking on his team’s performance, Al Gharafa’s Hany Elfakharany said: “Fifth place is a decent result for Al Gharafa in our first ever appearance at the Asian Clubs’ League. We could have finished higher but with such a short roster it was impossible to meet the needs of such a strong, lengthy and demanding tournament. I want to thank our goalkeeper Hamdi Missaoui, who doesn’t belong to Al Gharafa but joined us just at the tournament, for his efforts.”
On the upcoming World Championship, Elfakharany said: “Unfortunately, I am no longer a member of the Egyptian national team, as the federation has decided to put faith in the newer generation. I respect their decision and of course I will be there for them in case they need me. I’ve been in five World Championships before and I am sure that the 24th edition of the tournament in Qatar will be the best ever.”
Meanwhile, Iranian side Samenalhojaj began the 7/8 place match with new faces in their starting six — due to the suspensions of Sajad Esteki and Hossein Rahmati and injuries to Marcin Lijewski and Dan Beutler. But their Saudi Arabian opponents Al Khalij Club, who themselves had been playing with exhausted players and minor injuries for some days now, could not take advantage of that setback.
In the first-half of the game Samenalhojaj held a slight advantage. They managed to gain a four-goal lead at the break. In the second half, tiredness limited Al Khalij’s game drastically and it became an easy fight for the Iranians who in the end won 36-27 to finish the tournament in seventh place.
THE PENINSULA
