‘Games like these test our limits’: Sousa
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Head coach Helio Sousa was all praise for the Kingdom’s senior men’s national football team following their inspirational performance against Canada in an international friendly match on Friday, and said that these are the kinds of games Bahrain need to continue in their rise on the global stage.
After drawing 2-2 with the Canadians, the Bahrainis shift their focus to another FIFA World Cup 2022 participant in Serbia, who they play on Friday later this week in another tune-up fixture.
The Bahrain Football Association announced yesterday that the contest has been moved from Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town to Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad.
The game is part of the nationals’ preparations for their title-defence in the 25th Gulf Cup.
Sousa was upbeat after their fine showing against Canada, in a game in which they fell behind early on but then took the lead before conceding an equaliser in the closing stages.
“This was the kind of game we were looking for,” Sousa said in his post-match Press conference.
“Games like these put us in a challenge to go to our limits, and see if we can come upon them or behind them and keep growing up. “For us to succeed, we must have more of these kinds of challenges—to be more ready for the future and for our players to feel that they keep improving, to keep building up, and to have the capacity to play at this level.
“Even against a team of this quality, we could face them and keep believing in our idea of playing.”
Sousa said that Bahrain is approaching their game against Serbia like any other—with the aim to win—but also called on his team to make the most against the high level of opposition.
“We will do as what we have tried to build up since the beginning, since the first day we were together,” Sousa said. “It doesn’t matter who we are going to play, where we are going to play.
In any part of the world, it doesn’t matter, even if it is against the strongest team in the world. We will play to win.
“We will try to put our best strengths that we already have, and we must be the best version of that and try to manage in the best way where we aren’t so strong.
“Our match with Serbia is one more fantastic experience for us to face players of so high quality. We hope to see more fans in the stadium to help make it easier for us.” Friday’s game is scheduled for a 6.30pm start.
Tickets are available at BD10 for VIP seats, BD3 for category one seating and BD1 for category two.
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