Qatar Volleyball Association president Khalid Ali al-Mawlawi hands over the Super Cup winners’ trophy to Al Arabi after they beat Al Rayyan yesterday. PICTURE: Najeer Feroke
By Yash Mudgal/Doha
A seasoned professional is supposed to recognize and seize upon the big moments and Cuban Osmel Camejo did exactly that yesterday against arch-rivals Al Rayyan at the Indoor Hall of Al Arabi Stadium.
After inspiring the hosts to retain the Super Cup where he scored seven points on his serve in the crucial third set, Camejo admitted that he had aimed to finish on top after losing the Federation Cup final to El Jaish last Monday.
Yesterday, Al Arabi won 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 25-21).
“I was very disappointed after the Fed Cup loss and was very keen to win this time. I must say that it was a tough game for both the teams. All the sets were very close, but we won points at crucial moments and emerged winners,” said Camejo, who is playing his first season in Qatar.
In the opening set, it was a neck-to-neck affair until Camejo raced his side to a 25-23 lead after having stayed level at 21-21.
In the second set, Rayyan started off well and had a five-point lead in the middle of the game, but the Cuban rose to the occasion once again and curtailed the lead to only two points with his brilliant display, smashing the Rayyan defence with his power.
The third set was also a keenly-fought affair, but again Camejo proved the major hurdle for Rayyan players as he scored seven points on his serve and was equally good with his powerful smashes.
The Emir Cup champions Arabi kept the momentum in the fourth set and won it rather easily.
Though, Camejo started off with some mistakes, but in the end he proved the difference between the two teams. And it was well-admitted by his coach Mawia Alajnaf.
“Yes, he was the difference in the end. He is a very talented player and he showed it today why he is rated so high. He made some unforced errors during the initial moments of the game, but he scored some very crucial points for us,” Alajnaf said.
“He was fantastic today. Especially in the third set, when we were one-all, and Rayyan was trying to dominate us, he came up with some superb service and strong smashes, and changed the game in our favour,” he said.
Camejo was also supported well by his teammates — Juma Faraz, Ahmed Bassam and Mohamed Ibrahim. The trio had missed the Fed Cup final as they were rested before the start of the league and they were properly rotated by their coach. The combine proved too much for Rayyan, whose professional player Philip Maiyo was also off colour.
“We played a superb game today. We are very happy with the win. Camejo was extraordinary. Our cause was helped by a perfect rotation plan by our coach and I hope we will keep it up in the league also,” said Faraz.
It was the first Super Cup for Alajnaf and he was delighted with his team’s victory over league champions Rayyan.
“It is a very good victory for us. We lost the Fed Cup to Jaish, but now we are on equal footing before the start of the league. I hope we will keep the momentum going into the league,” he said.
The Qatar Volleyball League starts on November 26.
