2018 Men’s African Club Volleyball Championship - Swim Blue Pals lose second game |29 March 2018

Seychelles’ representatives at the ongoing men’s African Volleyball Championship, Swim Blue Pals, have lost their second game in Cairo, Egypt.

Inside the Ahly Club Halls yesterday, Swim Blue Pals were brought back to earth by Aviation of Egypt after their promising start with a 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-13, 25-17) win over the more experienced DGSP from Congo in their opening game on Tuesday.

The boys of French coach Olivier Sauer convincingly won the first set against the Egyptians who were playing in front of their fans but they went on to lose the next three sets. The pool B match played at 3pm Seychelles time ended 1-3 (25-20, 17-25, 21-25, 14-25).

This is the second straight win for Aviation in the competition after they beat Finances from Benin 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-16) in their first match on Tuesday.

Swim Blue Pals will have to up their game to avoid a second defeat today when they clash with Finances of Benin at 11am Seychelles time. Tomorrow, they will play Swehly of Libya at 5pm Seychelles time and their final pool B match is on Saturday March 31 against Bafia from Cameroon at 2pm Seychelles time.

In their first match, Swehly of Libya beat Bafia (Cameroon) 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-20).

The following are the results of some of the matches played yesterday: In pool A Nemo Star (Uganda) beat Redskins (Lesotho) 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-13); in pool C AS Police (Benin) beat University (Zimbabwe) 3-0 (25-18, 26-24, 25-14); in pool D GSU (Kenya) beat Wolaitta (Ethiopia) 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-17, 25-15); in pool C Smouha (Egypt) beat Mwangaza (Democratic Republic of Congo) 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-19) and in pool  Ahly Beni Ghazi (Libya) beat FAP (Cameroon) 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-21).

Twelve (12) matches are on the programme every day up to Saturday 31 and Sunday April 1 is a rest day. 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.

P. J.