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Day 1
The organizers
Tunisia
 Tunis,
Tunisia, August 23, 2008- The organizers Tunisia started
their way successfully after they edged South Africa in
the opening match of the 2008 Men’s African Nations
Championship here at Sidi Bousaid Hall in Tunis, Tunisia
on Saturday. Tunisia started the match with a shaky
performance as they were surprised by the emerging
performance of the South African team till they
controlled the game with their skillful stars specially
the setter Rami Bennour who was chosen by his coach as
the match star.
“My players started the match very stressed as they were
surprised by the performance of the South African team,”
Said Tunisia Head CXoach Karray Hedi after the match.
“As this is the opening match I’m really satisfied with
the performance of my team. Also I think the South
African team is a good team and reflecting the
improvement of the sport there.” He added.
On the other hand the South African coach Mabeka was
satisfied with his team’s performance specially many of
the players participate with the National team for the
first time. “I’m happy with my team because they started
the match with a very good performance although they
finished less then the start,” Mabeka said. “I’m happy
also with the left handed opposite May Ethen but he well
show more consistence in the coming matches.
 South
Africa started the match more concentrating on the spike
service of all the attackers and succeeded through their
rocket services to lead 8-6 at the first technical time
out. Tunisia service and backline defense improved
through the libero Bahri Massoud to come back and
succeeded to lead for the first time at the second
technical time out 16-15. South Africa committed many
service and reception mistakes that allowed Tunisia to
build up the attacks using the unstoppable hits of the
opposite Hamza Nagga from position 2 and thus Tunisia
led regularly till they won the set 25-19.
The second set showed also early South African
domination of the net action through the centers
Ellerberk Warwick and Naidoo Quwin to lead 8-7 at the
FTT. The match went point by point thereafter till
Tunisia used the strong hits of Elyes Karamosly from
position 2 and the fast attacks through the center Ahmed
Khadji till Tunisia led at the STT 16-15. South Africa
tried to save the set as the left attacker Viraragaven
Hansen used his skillful spikes but finally Tunisia won
the set 25-22.
Tunisia overwhelmed the situation in the third set due
to their better block and the coach Karray Hedi made
many substitutions to give the chance to all the bench
players but they were the better side to win 25-19.
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