Qatar Basketball Federation officials pose with coaches and players of Gharafa and El Jaish at the pre-final press conference of the Emir Cup on Wednesday
By Sports Reporter/Doha
In-form Gharafa are aiming to continue their dream run and claim a hat-trick of titles in the season, when they square off against underdogs El Jaish in the Emir Cup basketball final at the Gharafa Indoor Arena today.
Gharafa have not looked back after their Qatar Basketball League triumph as they went on to beat heavyweights Rayyan to clinch the Qatar Cup. They are now eyeing the prestigious Emir Cup, while former league champions El Jasih are looking to bag their maiden title.
Al Gharafa coach Koussay al-Qhalaf said: “We’ve had such a good season. For the first time we won the Qatar League and Qatar Cup, defeating 15-time league champions Rayyan.
“Now we are just one game away from completing a domestic treble.”
Al-Qhalaf also said he was feeling no pressure of maintaining the winning streak and would like to carry forward his side’s good show to today’s final.
“Though we had scored a narrow victory over Rayyan in the Qatar Cup, we have proved that we are a fast improving side and aren’t afraid of any team as our eyes are firmly set on this prestigious title,” added the Iraqi coach.
Gharafa entered the final of the season-ending Emir Cup last week by winning the first two of the best-of-three semifinals against last year’s runners-up Al Sadd last week. They won the first game 70-62 and later overpowered their rivals (99-78) in the second, while Jaish defeated seven-times champions Al Rayyan on Tuesday in the playoff to enter the title round.
“Jaish have played very well in the second half of the season and I think technically both teams are equally good, so the other factors like fitness and nerves may prove decisive in the end,” al-Qhalaf said.
Jaish coach Dragoslav Milovanovic also sounded optimistic of their first Emir Cup win despite their inconsistency during the season.
“We have had our ups and downs during the season and had a very hectic schedule for the Cup as we finished our play-offs just two days before the final, but we are ready to clinch the title and finish the season on a winning note,” he said.
“This is the end of a tough and tiring domestic season but I hope my boys will find their motivation with the Emir Cup at stake and finish the season with their first triumph in the competition,” Milovanovic added.
Jaish captain Baker Ahmad Mohamed also admitted that his team had consistency issues. “Yes, we have that (consistency )issue with us and we will address it soon, but this is the Emir Cup final and we all are raring to go. I consider Gharafa a tough team to beat and for that we have to give our cent percent and hopefully we will live up to the expectations,” he said.
Gharafa player Omar Abdelqadir Salam said: “We have won two titles and are high on confidence to complete a clean sweep of the domestic titles.The season is coming to an end and I am happy that we have put up a superb show this time. I think it will be a close match as both the teams are playing good basketball, but we have confidence in our abilities and are motivated to achieve the treble.”
Qatar Basketball Federation Secretary-General Mohamed Ali Houbash said the federation has lined up two cars and some other attractive prizes on the raffle draw for all the fans who turn up for the final.
Gharafa coach Koussay al-Qhalaf (centre) and player Omar Abdelqadir Salam address the media at the press conference. PICTURES: Jayan Orma