Sousa hails Nationals’ comeback win

Bahrain head coach Helio Sousa lauded his national team players for being “incredible” in their come-frombehind, penalty shootout victory against Iraq on Thursday night, which sealed their berth in the final of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup in Doha. The Bahrainis twice fell behind in the semi-final contest but managed to equalise each time, before pulling off a dramatic 5-3 win on penalties against their heavily favoured rivals.

“It was a fantastic game from both teams; we played a very good match with great quality,” Sousa said in his post-match Press conference. “We showed how strong we can be playing against these teams and how we are growing up. We were two times behind, but we came back with quality, having the ball and creating situations, and now having one more game and one more day for our players.

“They did a fantastic job and they were incredible one more time. I am so pleased and so satisfied and happy for the compromise they have. The quality they are trying to put in every moment, the sacrifice they are trying to put into the team, we hope that with this to be strong in the future.” Sousa noted that he preferred to fight back in the game rather than having a lead early on. “It shows the maturity our players are starting to have,” he explained. “They can deal with it and are emotionally balanced with that situation.

The way we came back against Iraq shows we are getting stronger each game; it shows we know what we need to do to catch up when we go behind. And after we do more, to keep playing inside of our identity and with a very good emotional balance to try what we can get.” Sousa continued to praise his players for the way they are rising to the occasion and deliver their best performances when called upon. He said that they are taking advantage of the chances they are getting to play, and added that this is key for their further development moving forward.

“We are building our team with a large group of players, not just these 23 who are here but also the others players who were already a part of the story of Bahrain this year. All of them have made this group stronger,” Sousa said. “Guys are fighting harder and trying to be better each day, and with that attitude we can be near of winning any game, at any time, against any team. “All our players have a chance to play.

Each time they play, for sure we will be stronger in the way that we are working and with the proposal that we are putting to our players. “For sure, each time they play with the high level of the teams that we are facing, the tendency is to be better every time. But that comes mostly from them – the compromise, the attitude, and what they are putting every time in the game for the team. We are very proud of them, they are great persons with quality, and they are putting all they have in the great moments we are having.”

With what he expects from his team in tomorrow’s final against Saudi Arabia, whom they lost to 0-2 in the Gulf Cup’s group stage, Sousa commented: “I expect the best team. We will be prepared, giving our all as ever, knowing it will be a very hard match. “We are already making history in this competition for Bahrain. In this kind of competition with two groups and then the semis, sometimes we arrive in the semis but never in the final. We are already making history, but we want to make more and for sure we will fight and give our best.”