Football fever hits Arab world again

by Khalil Hareb
For Al-Shorfa.com
2010-07-24

[ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP/Getty Images] The CAF Champion's League resumed this week. Above, an earlier game between Tunisian Esperance and Sudan's Al-Merreikh.

The excitement generated by the recent the World Cup is carrying over to other tournaments as all eyes in the region are focused on the Saudi Arabia Clubs Tour 2010.

Competition got rolling on July 14th when the Saudi outfit Ittihad faced Portugal's Veitoria Setubal. Ittihad earned a 3-2 win. On July 15th, Saudi Nasr played Italian giant Juventus and lost 5-0 in a goal scoring marathon.

On Sunday (July 18th), Nasr made up for their loss by beating another Saudi team, Altoaditji International, winning handily 6-1. On the same day Ittihad defeated Fatima from Portugal 2-0.

On Monday, Ittihad lost to Santa Clara from Portugal 1-0. Wehda, the Saudi outfit, secured a 3-0 victory over 1º de Maio Sarilhense from Portugal. Nasr demolished Bocs from Hungary 4-0. On Tuesday, Taawon beat Egypt's Smouha 2-1. Saudi outfit Qadasiya lost to Poland's Polonia Bytom 4-1.

In Wednesday's matches the Turkish outfit Kayserispor beat Saudi Shabab 2-1. Ittihad took on SC Olhanense from Portugal and secured a 3-0 victory. German side FC Rot-Weiss Frankfurt lost 3-2 to Ahli, allowing the hosts to celebrate the win with their fans. Saudi Hazm faced Egyptian Entag Harby and won 2-0. Another Saudi outfit, Hilal, took on FC Köln in a scoreless match.

Fans had even more football to watch as the CAF Champions League 2010 resumed playing matches this week. The best clubs in Africa compete at home and away during the competition. On July 18th, Egyptian side Ahly and Heartland FC Nigerian battled to a 1-1 draw, while Egypt's Ismaily lost to Algeria's JS Kabylie 1-0. Both Ahly and Ismaily last played in May.

Bowling

The Kuwaiti men's and women's teams both secured the gold in the 5th Arab Bowling Championship. The event was held from July 8th to July 16th in the International Bowling Centre in Cairo. Fourteen Arab teams competed against each other to secure the gold. The Kuwaiti bowlers managed to secure 12 medals including four gold, three silver and five bronze medals to earn first place and seize the championship.

Karate

On July 19th, Kuwait grabbed first position in the 12th Gulf Karate Championship for the 12th time in a row. The championship was held in Qatar. The Kuwaiti stars won eight gold, two silver and three bronze medals. Saudi Arabia finished second, leaving Bahrain in third place.

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