🏀 Al Ittihad Begin Their Damascus Journey
Al Ittihad Alexandria’s first-team basketball squad traveled from Cairo to Syria on Wednesday to participate in the Damascus International Friendly Tournament, an important part of the club’s preparations for the upcoming season.
The Egyptian side is traveling through Beirut first before completing its journey to Syria. The tournament is scheduled to begin on Thursday, October 8, and continue until October 16.
⭐ 15 Players Included in the Squad
Al Ittihad head coach Ahmed Omar has named a 15-man squad for the competition.
The players are:
Ali Ahmed, Mohamed Taha, Yasser Saleh, Youssef Shousha, Bassem El-Leithy, Abdelrahman Khaled, Youssef Refaat, Ahmed Rehan, Anas Osama, Mostafa Mekawy, Yassin Yasser, Ziad Abou El-Enein, Mohab Refaat, Rami Magdy and Ahmed Orabi.
The coaching staff will use the tournament to give the squad valuable competitive minutes, improve chemistry between the players and raise the team’s overall level ahead of the new season.
🌍 10 Arab Teams in Damascus
The Damascus International Tournament features 10 Arab teams, with Al Ittihad Alexandria joined by fellow Egyptian club Zamalek, Libyan side Al Ittihad, UAE clubs Al Nasr and Al Sharjah, Syria’s Olympic national team, Al Jaish and Al Wahda, as well as Lebanese teams Antranik and NSA.
The draw placed Al Ittihad in Group B alongside Syria’s Olympic team, Al Ittihad Libya, NSA Lebanon and Al Nasr UAE.
Group A includes Zamalek, Al Jaish, Al Wahda, Antranik and Al Sharjah.
🔥 Damascus Tournament Returns After 19 Years
This year’s tournament carries additional significance as the Damascus International Basketball Tournament returns after an absence of around 19 years.
The competition will be held at Damascus’ Al-Fayhaa Main Hall from October 8 through October 16.
Under the tournament format, teams will play within their respective groups during the opening stage. The top four teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals, while the fifth-placed team is eliminated.
🏆 Al Ittihad Target Valuable Preparation
Al Ittihad Alexandria are using the tournament as part of their preparations for the new season, with Ahmed Omar looking to improve the team’s physical and technical readiness while testing his players against different styles of opposition.
The tournament will also provide the Egyptian side with several competitive games in a short period, allowing the coaching staff to assess the squad and develop greater cohesion before the official competitions begin.
Can Al Ittihad Alexandria challenge strongly for the Damascus International title? 🏀🔥
