2018 Men’s African Club Volleyball Championship |28 March 2018

Swim Blue Pals off to winning start

Swim Blue Pals have got off to a good start in their first involvement in the Men’s African Club Volleyball Championship, by registering a win in their first match yesterday in Cairo, Egypt.

Coached by Frenchman Olivier Sauer, Swim Blue Pals started the championship on a good note as they beat the more experienced DGSP from Congo 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-13, 25-17) in their first pool B match played 1pm Seychelles time yesterday at the Ahly Club Halls.

Swim Blue Pals booked their ticket to the championship after winning the CAVB Zone 7 Indian Ocean Club Championship on a 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-23) score against two-time outgoing champions Gendarmerie Nationale of Madagascar three weeks ago at the Palais des Sports.

Only in their third year of existence, Swim Blue Pals, who won the second division league unbeaten in 2016 and repeated the feat in the top division last year, will play their second group B match today against Aviation from Egypt at 3pm Seychelles time.

Tomorrow, Thursday March 29, they will clash with Finances of Benin at 11am Seychelles time and the following day, Friday March 30, they will play Swehly of Libya at 5pm Seychelles time. Their final pool B match is on Friday March 31 against Bafia from Cameroon at 2pm Seychelles time.

A total of 12 matches were on the programme yesterday and defending champions Al Ahly from Egypt were to face Nemo Stars from Uganda late last night to start their title defence.

In earlier matches yesterday, Kenya Prisons (Kenya) beat Redskin (Lesotho) 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-22) in a pool A match. In pool B, Al Swehly (Libya) beat Bafia (Cameroon) 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-20), in pool C Ahly B (Libya) beat University (Zimbabwe) 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-17) and AS Police (Benin) defeated Mwangaza (Congo) 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 22-25, 25-17), and in pool D, Port Volleyball (Cameroon) beat Wolaitta Dicha Sport Club (Ethiopia) 3-1 (28-26, 20-25, 25-17, 25-23).

A record number of 24 teams are taking part in the championship and they have been divided into four pools. Only the top two sides in each pool will progress to the knockout phase and the team crowned champions will get to represent the African continent at World Club Championships, which will be co-hosted by Italy and Bulgaria with eight teams competing in the tournament, including two wild cards.

The other 11 matches on today’s programme are as follows:

Pool A: Nemo Stars (Uganda) v/s Red Skins (Lesotho), Espoir (Democratic Republic of Congo) v/s Prisons (Kenya), Ahly E (Egypt) v/s As Police (Ivory Coast)

Pool B: Bafia (Cameroon) v/s DGSP (Congo), Swehly (Libya) v/s Finances (Benin)

Pool C: University (Zimbabwe) v/s As Police (Benin), Mwangaza (Democratic Republic of Congo) v/s Smouha (Egypt), Ahly B (Libya) v/s FAP (Cameroon)

Pool D: Wolaitta (Ethiopia) v/s GEU (Kenya), Port (Cameroon) v/s Elgiesh (Egypt), Olympique (Algeria) v/s Kampala (Uganda).

P. J.