Omar Al -Balushi
The President of the Arab Volleyball Federation, Sheikh Ali bin Muhammad Al Khalifa, said that the Arab Federation started its movements in order to obtain the recognition of the International Volleyball Federation, and that all the championships of the Federation be calculated at the level of halls and beaches within the classification, indicating that if it obtains international accreditation, it will be the first Arab union for the collective game to be recognized.
“Al-Watan Al-Sports” spoke with Sheikh Ali bin Muhammad Al Khalifa after obtaining the confidence of the Arab federations for the presidency of the Arab Volleyball Federation during the 2024-2028, which is a confirmation of the great successes that have been achieved since he took over the presidency of the Federation in 2004.
The Arab federations have unanimously agreed on the great and important leadership of Sheikh Ali bin Muhammad Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Volleyball Federation in supporting the Arab plane, by issuing a unified statement signed by 15 Arab union out of 18 union with recommendations on Ali bin Mohammed as president of the Arab Federation for the game in 2023, succeeding the Kuwaiti resigned president, Dr. Abd al -Hadi al -Shabib, who headed the Union for only one year.
Ali bin Mohammed is a great weight in the game of volleyball at the Arab, Asian and international levels, and his success in making Bahrain a favorite and ideal destination to host many continental and international championships at the level of halls and beaches, and the following is the text of the dialogue:
– A new presidential term, how did you gain the confidence of the Arab Volleyball Federations?
Praise be to God for the confidence of the Arab federations by Zakiti as president of the union during the new electoral period, and the acclamation did not come from a vacuum, but rather came with the grace of God; And then the great and unlimited support by the wise leadership in the Kingdom of Bahraini sport, as well as the support and attention provided by His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, representative of His Majesty for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs, and His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the General Authority for Sports and Chairman of the Bahraini Olympic Committee for Bahraini Sports and Volleyball in particular.
I also appreciate the confidence of the Arab Volleyball Federations in my purity for this position, calling on the Lord – Glory be to Him – to help me to serve the Arab sport and volleyball.
– After renewing confidence in you, what are the goals set for this electoral period?
We have started our movements for the Arab Federation to obtain the recognition of the International Volleyball Federation, and that all the championships of the Federation be calculated at the level of halls and beaches within the classification, where we are working on this matter directly with the President of the International Federation, since the establishment of the Arab Union in 1975 has not been recognized in the continental federations and the International Federation.
In the event that the union gets international accreditation, it will be the first Arab union for a collective game to be recognized, and this comes thanks to the strong relationship that binds us to the International Federation.
Are there created tournaments in the Arab Volleyball Federation?
Yes, we have created a new tournament two months ago under the name of the Arab Elite Cup, where the 8 best teams will participate in the tournament, and Egypt has been chosen to hold the first version of the tournament, and if it apologizes for the organization, it will be held in Morocco, and the end of this year is the date set for its organization.
– What was achieved during the era of Sheikh Ali bin Muhammad Al Khalifa, under his chairmanship of the Arab Volleyball Federation?
Many matters were achieved, the most important of which is the increase in the financial resources of the Arab Federation through the media contract with the Arab Radio Federation, and the contribution to the transfer of tournaments at the TV level, as well as providing financial prizes for the first three teams and teams in the championships.
In addition to the arrival of the Arab federations to a consensus between them in several aspects, the most important of which is organizational, and this matter did not come from a vacuum.
What made Bahrain a favorite destination for organizing world and continental championships?
Praise be to God, we organized many continental and international championships on the land of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and based on our excellent organization, we gained the confidence of the Asian and international federations, and Bahrain has become a favorite and ideal destination for the organization.
This organization also contributed to the participation of our teams in the championship that is difficult to qualify, and Bahrain participated in many international championships.
Are there plans and programs for the Bahraini Federation that contribute to developing artwork and sports in general?
The aircraft federation worked to make a change starting from the next season at the level of local championships, by playing the Isa Bin Rashid Volleyball League next season 2025-2026 in the classification league system, to play the league in the 2026-2027 season with the first and second grades system as it was previously, and clubs will be allowed to sign professional players.
– Your choice of the new coach of the national team is it a correct option after the difference in training schools in the past years?
French coach Arnoud Gusirand was chosen based on his strong autobiography, as he contributed to achieving the gold medal of his country, France, within the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as part of his work with the technical staff, as well as that the International Federation emphasized the work of the strong coach with the teams and teams that work within strategies to improve its situation.
We are working to implement this strategy in order for the Bahrain team to become among the first four countries at the level of Asian teams, and the new French coach will supervise the team during his participation this year, and it is expected to arrive during the first half of this month.
When will we see our national team competing at the continental level?
We contracted with the French coach, Josirand, in order to achieve this, in addition to the fact that the Bahrain organizing large championships on its soil is to reach the ranks of strong and competition teams, through friction with the international teams.
