Dubai: Volleyball afficionados can have a peek at some of the best emerging talents of the sport when Dubai plays host to the second edition of the FIVB Men’s U-23 World Championship, starting on Monday (August 24-31).
No other country in the region has hosted such a major volleyball competition. Having 12 of the best teams from across the globe, the championship is meant to provide another opportunity for age-group players to participate in an international tournament with the ultimate goal of reducing the gap between age-group and senior volleyball.
Defending champions Brazil have once again shown true intent of winning the title they won two years back on home soil in Uberlandia. The team has been in training for nearly two months and last week the juniors travelled to Reno, USA to win the Pan-American Cup contested between some of the best volleyball teams from the Americas, including Argentina, Venezuela, USA, Canada, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Brazilian Alan Souza also went on to pick up the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament at the Reno Events Centre.
“That tournament was different. It was meant to get our players focused on actual competition. This week is a completely different thing. This is the actual tournament for which we have been preparing. The jigsaw needs to be completed and for this we need to stay focused and keep winning one match at a time,” Brazil coach Roberley Leonaldo (Rubinho) told Gulf News.
In the 2013 final, the Brazilians were stretched for a 3-2 win over Serbia. This year will be no different as the competition has only got stiffer and tougher. Prominent among the challengers before the Brazilians will be Russia, Italy and Iran. Rubinho is well aware of this. “There are so many teams who can really compete against us. Teams like Russia, Iran and Italy have improved tremendously with some of these players, even though they are juniors, used to playing in top-level competitions, be it at club or national team levels. So it is definitely not going to be easy for us,” Rubinho cautioned.
“I have advised my players to play their best and enjoy every moment on the court. Most of them are aware of the challenges ahead this week, but they will be playing in the true spirit of the sport,” he added.
All the teams have landed and have been busy with last-minute preparations before the start of the competition on Monday. Held simultaneously at two venues – Al Nasr and Al Ahli – the 12 teams have been divided into two pools of six each. While Al Nasr will host Italy, Egypt, Cuba, South Korea, Iran and hosts UAE, Al Ahli will have Pool B matches involving Russia, Tunisia, Argentina, Turkey, Mexico and defending champions Brazil – winners of the inaugural 2013 edition held on home soil in Uberlandia.
European champions Russia will take on African champions Tunisia to throw open the competition at 12 noon at Al Ahli, while the hosts will be the last team out on the opening day against Asian champions Iran at 8.30 pm at Al Nasr.
“We are all set for such a high-profile competition. We want people to come out and enjoy a celebration of sport here in the UAE. Some of the best teams from around the world are right now in Dubai and it would be a shame if we all do not join in this party that is meant to toast volleyball,” Yousuf Al Mulla, President, UAE Volleyball Association (UAE VA) said.
