Bahrain beach soccer boss Marhoon upbeat despite AFC quarter-final exit

TDT | Manama

Email : hussianm@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain beach soccer head coach Sadiq Marhoon says he’s proud of his side’s campaign at the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup 2025, after they reached the quarter-finals despite fielding a largely inexperienced squad.

The tournament, held in Thailand, saw Bahrain progress from the group stage before falling to eventual champions Iran in the last eight.

Speaking after the exit, Marhoon described the performance as “positive” in the context of a squad overhaul that saw 80% of the players making their first major international appearance.

“We had a clear goal to reach the knockout rounds, and we achieved that,” he said. “The boys showed great commitment and learned a lot from facing top opposition.”

Bahrain were handed a heavy defeat by Iran in the quarter-finals, with Marhoon admitting the physical and technical gulf was clear.

“Iran are one of the best sides in the world,” he added. “They were always favourites to win the title, and they showed why.”

Marhoon also pointed to the lack of a dedicated fitness coach and goalkeeper trainer as factors that hampered their preparations, along with limited time together due to players’ work commitments. The full squad only assembled ten days before the tournament.

Despite the early exit, Marhoon remains encouraged by the potential shown and believes this group could form the backbone of a stronger side in the years ahead.