CAIRO: The International Handball Federation has officially awarded Al Ahly club the privilege of hosting the prestigious third edition of the Super Globe Competition where five continental champions will compete from June 4 to 10 to choose the globe s best handball club.
It’s a great honor to organize such a big event in the sport of handball. Such a privilege proves that Al Ahly isn t only interested in football, in fact our interest extends to all sports whether team sports or single sports, Hassan Hamdy, president of Al Ahly said during a press conference held at the club s on Saturday.
Hassan Moustafa, the president of the International Handball Federation expressed his delight with the fact that Al Ahly will organize the prestigious event during the club’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
I m really delighted that a club with such a great history will have the honor to organize a highly acclaimed competition in the calendar of handball. I also think that with the centennial celebrations coinciding with the competition, the event shall be a memorable one, Moustafa added.
Ibrahim El Moallem, president of the centennial committee pointed out that Al Ahly s main aim behind bidding to host the tournament was to reflect the fact that it’s not a soccer champion only, as the club s superiority in Egypt and the region applies to all sports. He mentioned that the club won 208 competitions last year alone.
Stefan Holm, vice president of the International Handball Federation anticipated a competent organization.
What I observed so far is a very professional attitude from all the club’s organizing team, thus I m assured that we re in good hands, Holm added.
Hisham Said, the president of the Organizing Committee emphasized that intensive preparations are underway to put on an impressive tournament that would show Al Ahly s administrative competence.
A new scoreboard has been already installed and we will designate a full section within Prince Abdallah Al Faisal s indoor hall for media correspondents with wireless internet service as well as fully equipped communication facilities to be installed in the media center.
Said added that the competition will be played through a one round scheme in which all teams will play against each other, the team with the highest number of points will be crowned as the world s club champion.
The winning team will receive $30,000, second placed will be granted an amount of $20,000, while third placed will get $15,000.
The third edition of the of the Super Globe competition will feature Spain s Real Sociedad as Europe s representative, Tunisia s Club Africain as Africa s crowned champions, Kuwait s Al Qadsia as Asia s champions, Al Ahly as the host club and finally a club from the Pan-American zone which is set to be determined on May 20, all of which will have a hard fought climb to reach the pinnacle of the handball world on the club level.
