D1 Round 4: Al Jahraa lose to Al Kuwait - Dec 30, 2016
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There was a change at the D1 leadership position after last games. The most important game of round 4 took place in Kuwait City between two undefeated teams where Al Kuwait beat Al Jahraa (2-1) 78-70 on Wednesday night. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Jahraa. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Al Kuwait have a solid three-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Al Qadsia and Kazma. Al Jahraa at the other side dropped to the fourth place with one game lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by Al Kuwait. Al Jahraa will play next round against Al Sulaibikhat trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Al Kuwait will try to continue on its current victory against third ranked Kazma. It will be extra interesting game as Kazma is their local rival from Kuwait City. Another interesting game was a derby match between two teams from Kuwait City: Kazma (#3) and Al Arabi (#6). Kazma (3-0) won against visiting Al Arabi (1-2) 90-82. Kazma have a solid three-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Al Qadsia and Al Kuwait. Al Arabi at the other side keeps the sixth place with two games lost. They share the position with Al Yarmook and Al Shabab. Kazma's supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Kuwait City to the arena Al Kuwait. Al Sahel has registered their first victory this season after three consecutive losses. The win is especially important as they defeated much higher ranked Al Shabab (1-2) on the road game in Al Ahmadi 73-64 on Wednesday. It was the only win of guest team this round and in all other games host teams recorded victories. Al Sahel (1-3) left bottom position moving up to ninth place. Loser Al Shabab dropped to the sixth position with two games lost. They share it with Al Arabi and Al Yarmook. Top-ranked Al Qadsia blasted bottom-ranked Al Nasar (0-3) in Kuwait City 90-62 keeping the perfect record after 4 rounds. Al Nasar is still unable to win any game. Al Qadsia have a solid three-game winning streak. Defending champion (3-0) keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Al Kuwait and Kazma. Al Nasar at the other side still closes the standings with three games lost. Al Qadsia's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Kuwait City to the arena Al Arabi.
Another interesting game was a derby match between two teams from Kuwait City: Kazma (#3) and Al Arabi (#6). Kazma (3-0) won against visiting Al Arabi (1-2) 90-82. Kazma have a solid three-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Al Qadsia and Al Kuwait. Al Arabi at the other side keeps the sixth place with two games lost. They share the position with Al Yarmook and Al Shabab. Kazma's supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Kuwait City to the arena Al Kuwait.
Al Sahel has registered their first victory this season after three consecutive losses. The win is especially important as they defeated much higher ranked Al Shabab (1-2) on the road game in Al Ahmadi 73-64 on Wednesday. It was the only win of guest team this round and in all other games host teams recorded victories. Al Sahel (1-3) left bottom position moving up to ninth place. Loser Al Shabab dropped to the sixth position with two games lost. They share it with Al Arabi and Al Yarmook.
Top-ranked Al Qadsia blasted bottom-ranked Al Nasar (0-3) in Kuwait City 90-62 keeping the perfect record after 4 rounds. Al Nasar is still unable to win any game. Al Qadsia have a solid three-game winning streak. Defending champion (3-0) keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Al Kuwait and Kazma. Al Nasar at the other side still closes the standings with three games lost. Al Qadsia's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Kuwait City to the arena Al Arabi.
There was a change at the D1 leadership position after last games. The most important game of round 4 took place in Kuwait City between two undefeated teams where Al Kuwait beat Al Jahraa (2-1) 78-70 on Wednesday night. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Jahraa. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Al Kuwait have a solid three-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Al Qadsia and Kazma. Al Jahraa at the other side dropped to the fourth place with one game lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by Al Kuwait. Al Jahraa will play next round against Al Sulaibikhat trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Al Kuwait will try to continue on its current victory against third ranked Kazma. It will be extra interesting game as Kazma is their local rival from Kuwait City.
Eurobasket.com had a pleasure to chat with one of the biggest coaching icons in last 10 years in Middle East and Asia, coach Toni Vujanic . He was awarded many times as Coach of the Year in different countries. Coach Toni good day, how are you? Greetings to Eurobasket, I am fine, thank you. Coach you are coaching in Bahrain now, after leaving Kuwait. What was the reason? Yes, I am in Bahrain since September 2017. I left Kuwait because I didn't see change to develop with my team an... [read more]
Eurobasket.com had a pleasure to chat with one of the biggest coaching icons in last 10 years in Middle East and Asia, coach Toni Vujanic . He was awarded many times as Coach of the Year in different countries.
Coach Toni good day, how are you?
Greetings to Eurobasket, I am fine, thank you. Coach you are coaching in Bahrain now, after leaving Kuwait. What was the reason?
Yes, I am in Bahrain since September 2017. I left Kuwait because I didn't see change to develop with my team and compete against Qadasiya-Kuwait and Jahra. Management didn't have ambitions to reinforce team after losing major 2-3 players. We had great season before, but that was it... it was really pitty because basketball in Kuwait and Kazma deserve better treatment and if they don't wake up on time, many GCC countries will pass them.
So, tell us why Al Riffa, team that didn't exists on basketball map in Bahrain?
Well, some things in life come unexpected and we can't control them. I booked and payed my own ticket back to Europe and on day of the fly, actually 700m before the airport I got a call from Riffa team asking me to come direct ... I accepted offer even it wasn't greatest, but more, I accepted challenge with young team and players that mostly never played in their teams and never played together.
Tell us about All Riffa and your outstanding import Marcel Jones?
Riffa is respected soccer club and basketball is new to everyone there. It's very "new" team in Bahrain basketball league that started the season very bad, after 4 days watching a tape and observing the games, I created my idea and decided how should I work. I signed very good import Marcel Jones that in beginning everyone was little skeptical, but after regular season he become top scorer of the league and so far for me, sure MVP of the league. Marcel is multi polar player with great speed and ball handling, very athletic and energetic young man with great basketball IQ. We worked 2 times a day very hard and slowly but sure we started to climb up on the list... when I came to Al Riffa, the team was sharing 9th and 10th position and we finished regular season on 4th spot.
Anything about local players?
Al Riffa locel players are group of unexperienced guys with great working attitude. Players hungry to learn and all "our" success is thanks to them and Marcel. Only capitan A. Gali, Ahmad Alo, Hussain Mossawi (that is injured), and M. Nabil have experience in Bahrain league, all the rest are the players that got not much chance in previous teams, but players with ability to learn and develop. Again, it's incredible to see how these guys develop and get better every single week. Big respect to them and my gratitude.
How is Bahrain and league down there?
Bahrain is a great country with supper infrastructure and organization. Teams as Manama and Muharraq and Ahly are very good organized basketball clubs. Federation under new President Shaik is growing fantastically and his visions are incredibly good for develop of basketball in Bahrain and GCC. I was till 2014 in Bahrain but now all is far much better and more structured and organized. I am supprised in changes and way how this President work. I am sure that the future of Bahrain basketball is bright. Only 3 things I would add: local players needs experience and games, every player should have 40+ games during the season before entering final stage; the league has lots of fans, some games of top teams are 3000 fans in gym and second import is "must", he would not kill the locals but he would bring taste and league would be so strong as some Top leagues in Asia; and last but not least - Bahrain has very "good" referees but should be more structured and better organized and paid.
Coach, what are your plans for the future?
I like Bahrain a lot but I have one year contract with Al Riffa and after April I am free... like all my colleagues I would like to make some project on long term .. working short term contract is very hard for any coach and needs lots of hard work and its tricky and unsecure. When you have 2 or 3 year contract you can build and create team and philosophy, short term's contracts maeans that club have no vision for the future and that your work depends on many different factors. So always open for new challenges.
Thank you Coach for this chate, anything you want to add?
I thank eurobasket.com for opportunity and this interview and hope you keep doing great work and promote the best game so fat. I thank my President, club and all my players for this season so far and hope that "sky is the limit" for us. Thanks once again!
Al Qadsia club signed with the Macedonian Coach Jordanco Davitkov till end of the season.
Coach Jordanco used to be a hed coach for Al Qadsia from 2009 till 2011.
Awards/Achievements:
Macedonian Cup Winner -01, 05
Macedonian League Semifinals -01, 04
Head Coach: FYR Macedonian National Team -01, 05-7, 17
Macedonian Cup Finalist -04
Macedonian League Regular Season Runner-Up -05, 07
Macedonian League Champion -05
Macedonian League Regular Season Champion -06
Mac... [read more]
Al Qadsia club signed with the Macedonian Coach Jordanco Davitkov till end of the season. Coach Jordanco used to be a hed coach for Al Qadsia from 2009 till 2011.
Awards/Achievements:
Macedonian Cup Winner -01, 05 Macedonian League Semifinals -01, 04 Head Coach: FYR Macedonian National Team -01, 05-7, 17 Macedonian Cup Finalist -04 Macedonian League Regular Season Runner-Up -05, 07 Macedonian League Champion -05 Macedonian League Regular Season Champion -06 Macedonian Cup Semifinals -07 Kuwait League Regular Season Champion -09 Kuwait League Champion -09-11 Golden 4 Finalist -09 Kuwait Federation Cup Winner -10 Head Coach: Kuwait National Team -11 Pan Arab Games in Doha -11 Kuwait Federation Cup Finalist -12 World Cup 2019 European Pre-Qualifiers -17
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