Bragging rights at stake as Police face champs Rayyan

Police, who have lost only three games this season, faces yet another big test in the Qatar Volleyball Cup final when they take on defending champions Al Rayyan at the Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) Indoor Hall today.The newly-crowned Qatar Volleyball League champions are high on confidence despite second-placed Rayyan being bolstered by two top-class professional players — Marko Vukosinovic and Kamil Rychlicki — for the match, a repeat of the last year’s final.  “We have played superb volleyball throughout the year and we as a team are a confident lot going into the final,” Police coach Damian Arrendondo told Gulf Times on the eve of the final. This is the fifth clash of the season between the two teams, with Al Rayyan and Police clinching two wins apiece.Police have suffered only three losses this season and two of them have been against Rayyan.First, they lost the Super Cup to Rayyan, before yet another loss in the Arab Club Championships in Tunis. Al Wakrah handed Police their third loss in the second match of the best-of-three semi-finals in the ongoing competition.“Yes, they are an experienced club and have a much stronger side now with the inclusion of two professionals, but we have ammunition to overcome them,” Arrendondo said. Police have defeated Rayyan in their both the league encounters.On the other hand, two-time champions Rayyan are aiming for their second domestic title of the season having won the season-opening Super Cup.Under their Brazilian coach Carlos Schwanke, who guided them to unprecedented six titles last year, Rayyan have a good chance to retain the Cup. Rayyan first won the Cup in 2016 defeating El Jaish but failed to retain after losing to Al Arabi the next year.“Yes, they have the feeling of being there and done that, but after winning the league, my boys are also upbeat and raring to go,” Police coach said. John Chigbo will lead the Police team, which has the firepower of Mikko Oivanen and Willner Riva.Both the finalists held off their respective rivals, winning the third of the best-of-three semi-finals on Tuesday. Police overpowered a gritty Al Wakrah Club 27-29, 25-18, 41-39, 25-19 in two hours and two minutes, while Rayyan defeated three-time champions Al Arabi 25-20, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21 in 110 minutes.Rayyan will be without their regular captain Mubarak Dahi Waleed.“We will be playing without Waleed as he is injured, but we have a very good chance of retaining the Cup,” Schwanke said.QVA board member Mohamed Salem al-Kuwari has announced the winners will get QR300,000 in prize-money, while runners-up will pocket QR200,000.