Bahrain ready for Canada challenge
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Bahrain’s senior men’s national football team have stepped up their preparations for their upcoming international friendly match tomorrow against FIFA World Cup 2022 participants Canada.
The Bahrainis continued their ongoing training camp under head coach Helio Sousa with 24 players on the squad.
Tomorrow’s game is scheduled for a 6.30pm kick-off at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town.
All are invited to attend the contest. Tickets are available at the gate at BD3 apiece for category one seats and BD1 for category two seating.
VIP tickets have already sold out, according to the Bahrain Football Association (BFA).
BFA president Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa visited the national team’s training session at the match venue, accompanied by BFA vice-president His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Isa Al Khalifa and BFA secretary general Rashid Al Zoubi.
They met with the players and coaching staff and wished them the best in their upcoming friendly against the 41st ranked team in the world.
Bahrain, on the other hand, are 85th on the FIFA World Ranking for men.
The Canadians have already reached the Kingdom and begun their practices.
They have travelled with a 21-player squad.
Their friendly in Bahrain is the first of two in the Gulf—they will also be playing Asian powerhouses Japan in Dubai on 17 November.
Canada’s roster in Bahrain includes goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau, James Pantemis and Dayne St. Clair; defenders Doneil Henry, Lukas MacNaughton, Kamal Miller, Joel Waterman, Zachary Brault-Guillard, Raheem Edwards, Alistair Johnston and Richie Laryea; midfielders Mathieu Choiniere, Liam Fraser, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Ismael Kone, Jonathan Osorio and Samuel Piette; and forwards Ayo Akinola, Lucas Cavallini, Jayden Nelson and Jacob Shaffelburg.
The friendly against Canada is the first of two during the Bahrainis’ ongoing camp.
The other will also be against a FIFA World Cup participant in Serbia, who are ranked 21st in the world.
The nationals are using these games to gear up for their much-awaited title defence in the 25th Gulf Cup, which is scheduled to take place in January of next year in Iraq.
Bahrain won the previous edition of the Gulf Cup in 2019.
It was an historic achievement for the national team after winning the title for the first time in nearly 50 years.
Bahrain hosted the first-ever edition of the regional competition in 1970 but had previously never won until then.
They finished as runners-up four other times.
Bahrain will also be taking part in the AFC Asian Cup 2023.
The continental showcase will be held in June and July.
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