Al Ain aims for brace of trophies after volleyball league title

With the league title tucked away, the Al Ain volleyball players will take another step towards a trophy double Friday when the Zayed Cup gets underway.

With the league title in hand the Al Ain volleyball team has set their focus on the Zayed Cup.

Al Ain volleyball players will take another step towards a trophy double today when the Zayed Cup gets underway.

The Garden City club won the league crown for a second successive year when the beat Al Shabab 3-0 at Al Ahli Club this week.

The players now turn their attentions to the cup; they open their campaign at home against Baniyas.

Mohammed Abdullah bin Bdoua, a member of the Al Ain Club Board of Directors and the group and individual games supervisor, congratulated the team on their league success.

"This achievement is the result of the players efforts during the league," he said. "They promised and they were honest and fulfilled their promise. They proved that they verily deserve the title for the second time successively.

"However, we will never stop here, but we will go for Zayed Cup and the President's Cup also."

Murad Sanon, the coach, said: "We are the champions of the last season and we must keep this title in Al Ain Club. We thank Allah that our players could prove their trustworthiness.

"Now we should forget this championship and look ahead especially [as] we have the Zayed Cup and we should prepare well."

He also thanked the club's management for the support they have given his team.

Mohammed Shaml, one of the league-winning players, dedicated the title to the Board of Directors and to his daughter, Hind.

"This championship is the toughest one and it is so precious for us. I thank my colleagues for their efforts during this season. In fact, this title means a lot for me."

* Agency