Sousa calls up 24-player squad for Canada, Serbia friendlies

TDT | Manama                  

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain head coach Helio Sousa announced yesterday a 24-player senior men’s national team roster for their upcoming training camp starting next week, which includes a pair of international friendly matches against FIFA World Cup 2022 participants Canada and Serbia later this month.

The squad will gather for training locally on Sunday and will continue their programme until 18 November, when they face the Serbians at home. The nationals will also host their Canadian counterparts on 11 November.

Both matches will be played at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town. The national team line-up includes a pair of Bahrain’s overseas-based professionals in Ali Madan (Al Ajman FC, UAE) and Abdulla Yusuf (Persija Jakarta, Indonesia), as well as local league talents from Riffa, Muharraq, Hidd, Manama, Al Ahli, Al Khaldiya, and for the first time ever from Um Al Hassam Club.

Seven players have been called up from Riffa, including Ali Haram, Hamad Shamsan, Sayed Hashim Isa, Jassim Al Shaikh, Komail Al Aswad, Mohammed Jassim Marhoon and Sayed Redha Isa; while five are from Muharraq, namely Abdulwahab Al Malood, Amine Hasan, Rashed Alhooti, Sayed Mohammed Jaafar and Waleed Al Hayam.

From Hidd, Talal Al Sherooqi was named to the team, while from Manama, the trio of Ammar Mohammed, Ebrahim Al Khattal and Mahdi Abdullatif were included. Ebrahim Lutfallah was called up from Ahli, and Ahmed Bughammar, Mahdi Humaidan, Mohammed Adel and Sayed Dhiya Saeed were selected from Khaldiya.

Rounding out the roster was Ali Alenzi, who became the first-ever national team call-up from Um Al Hassam. The Bahrainis are gearing up for their highly anticipated title-defence in the 25th edition of the Gulf Cup football tournament, which is scheduled to take place in January of next year in Iraq. Bahrain will also be taking part in the AFC Asian Cup 2023. The continental showcase will be held in June and July.