Qatar clubs bring in top players in search for glory

 Doha, Qatar, April 21, 2016 – Volleyball fans are in for a treat in Qatar as the country’s major teams bring in some of the sport’s top stars in a bid for glory in major competitions.

With the QVA League having been claimed by the mighty Al Arabi after dethroning Al Rayyan Club, two more major events are left in the domestic season – the Qatar Cup and Emir’s Cup.

The Qatar Cup, involving the top four finishers in the league, is due to begin on Friday, while the Emir’s Cup, another premier event, is scheduled to commence on April 30 at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena.

According to confirmed reports, Al Arabi, who also won the Super Cup against last season’s league winners Al Rayyan, have signed Italian national team star Ivan Zaytsev and Brazilian Yoandry Leal Hidalgo.

Al Arabi’s archrivals Al Rayyan have paired Russian star Dmitriy Ilinykh with Poland’s Zbigniev Bartman. Police have got the services of Silmar Antonio de Almeida and Williams Pedura Diaz, while El Jaish have brought in Robertlandy Simon and Oreol Camejo.

Al Arabi’s Zaytsev is a 202-cm opposite who smashes the ball at 355 cm and can block at 348 cm. He was in the Italian team that took the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. In 2011 and 2013, the VC Dynamo Moscow player earned European Championship silver medals. He also has picked up a 2013 World League bronze medal and gold in the Italian Championship in 2014.

Hidalgo was a Cuban national team player for four years. With the Cuban team failing to …

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