Hidd clinch football title

Manama

Hidd was last night crowned champions of the 2019/2020 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League. Hidd secured the title following a hard-earned 2-0 victory over Busaiteen at Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad.

The result put them a point ahead of their closest challenger Muharraq to complete the season. Muharraq were also winners yesterday with a 1-0 triumph against Manama, but they still came up short in their title quest. Hidd also moved four points clear of last year’s champions Riffa, who still having one match in hand.

Hidd clinched only their second title in the history of the league, having won it the first time in the 2012/2013 season. Bahraini striker Jassir Hamed and French professional Mamadou Drame were on target on either side of halftime for the winners. Hamed found the net just before the interval. The under-20 international was unmarked as he was on the receiving end of a free-kick from the right flank by Syrian midfielder Mohammed Fares, and he made no mistake with his header.

Hidd skipper and national team star Abdulwahab Al Malood had a wonderful chance to put them ahead just four minutes earlier, but his attempt at nearly the exact same spot from where Hamed scored was punched away on the goal line. Later in the match, Drame fired home in the 76th minute from close range after receiving a short pass from Al Malood in the box.

The goal virtually sealed the full three points for Hidd, along with the title. The result was Hidd’s 13th win in 18 matches, as they improved to 41 points on the league table. Busaiteen stayed on 16 points following their 10th loss. Muharraq, meanwhile, improved to 40 points after also claiming win number 13, but it was not enough.

Manama stayed on 20 points in sixth place. Following their title triumph, Hidd are scheduled to receive their trophy and medals in a ceremony scheduled to be held tonight at Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town. In another match yesterday, Al Ahli defeated Al Shabab 2-0. The result meant that Shabab were relegated along with Al Hala to the second division, after Ahli finished the season with 17 points while Shabab stayed on 14.

Two matches are still to be played in the league that have yet to be scheduled by the Bahrain Football Association. They are between Riffa and East Riffa, and Al Najma and Hala.