Al Nasr win the youth league; the coach explains how
An 83-70 win away to Sharjah gave Al Nasr the national U18 title.
Al Nasr's young side were crowned champions of the UAE national youth basketball league after beating hosts Sharjah 83-70.
The match was attended by Major General Ismail Al Qarqawi, president of the UAE and Arab basketball federations, and a number of officials from Sharjah and Al Nasr.
Al Nasr defied expectations in taking the title, with every prediction favouring Sharjah, champions in each of the previous two seasons.
The match was closely fought, with chances to settle it at both ends, until Al Nasr won by just seven points.
Al Nasr coach Hossam Al Wakeel said he had told his players before the game that everyone was betting on them losing, and that the pressure was not on them but on Sharjah, the hosts with the crowd behind them.
Al Wakeel said he asked his players to use that to generate a sense of challenge and win the match, noting that despite absences in his squad he had prepared the available players, who carried out the plan and the instructions — which is what delivered the title.
The Al Nasr coach said the future of basketball in the Emirates is moving in the right direction, given the talent and players available.
At the final whistle Al Nasr received the title amid considerable delight from the club's players, in the presence of Mohammed Ali Al Our, executive director of Al Nasr's sports games company, and first-team coach Ahmed Omar.
In the third-place match of the UAE youth league, Al Wasl beat Al Wahda 77-71 at the Falcons school.
