Teams arrive for U-19 Asian Championships

Manama : Football teams from across Asia have started arriving in Bahrain for the 39th 2016 AFC U-19 Championships which will get underway on Thursday. 

Title favourites Iraq and South Korea have already touched down on the Kingdom last week, followed by the arrival of delegations from the Asian Football Confederation and officials.

Bahrain, whose best result was coming runners-up to champions Saudi Arabia in the 1986 edition, stepped up their training at the Bahrain Football Association grounds under national coach Abdulaziz Abdo. They will play in a tough Group ‘A’ along with 12-time champions South Korea, twice AFC Cup winners Saudi Arabia and Thailand. 

Bahrain will kick off their campaign facing Saudi Arabia in a key match on the first day and runs until eight stadiums have been to host the training sessions, namely Al Ahli, Al Najma, Hamad Town, Riffa, East Riffa, East Riffa, Bahrain Club, in addition to the Bahrain Football Association pitches 1 and 2.

The executive committee, headed by Aref Al Mannai, has also prepared a special campaign to promote the event by organising a variety of activities over the past days, including events at Bahrain City Centre and
Seef Mall, while several banners and huge posters were placed in different parts of Bahrain.