Bahrain ‘focused on next game’ in Gulf Cup title-defence
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Bahrain are taking their title-defence one game at a time at the 25th Arab Gulf Cup, says head coach Helio Sousa as they get set to face off with Qatar in their second Group B fixture of the tournament tonight.
Speaking in his pre-match Press conference yesterday, Sousa said that the nationals are not looking too far ahead in the competition, in which they are the defending champions, but are focused solely on their upcoming opponents.
“We are focused on the next game; not thinking right now on the title,” Sousa stressed.
“We are taking it game by game before we get the chance to fight for the title again.
“One game went our way, as we wanted and as we prepared to do it, but we know that we are now facing a strong team with good quality players.
“They will bring different problems than Emirates.” The Bahrainis defeated the UAE 2-1 in their opening contest last Saturday, while the Qataris were also winners in their first outing, beating Kuwait 2-0.
“We are thinking mostly of ourselves as always and preparing for the next game to win again,” Sousa added.
“If we win, we will be more near to reach the next stage of the competition, and more near to fight for the title again.
But mostly it is the next game we are more concerned about at this moment.” Sousa said that his side felt added pressure in their game against the Emiratis, being the reigning title-holders.
“It is always difficult the first games of short competitions, but this time it was even more so because it was the first time as a team that we were winners of the previous competition, and that makes it different for sure,” Sousa explained. “Expectations are on us and the players.”
The Portuguese tactician said that while the national team has shown great development over the last few years, there is still plenty of room for them to continue growing—something they can only achieve together.
“The last time Bahrain won against the UAE was before 2010,” he said.
“The people see us as very good, but we are not so strong yet as the results sometimes show. “We need to be consistent to be as strong as some of the other teams around us.
But that shows the development that is being made, and all of us on the Bahrain national team must support the guys who are doing a fantastic job, and give them a good bed for them to lay down and be better for the future, “That, we can only do it all together, all wishing for the same side.”
Bahrain’s match with Qatar tonight is scheduled for a 7.15pm kick-off, Bahrain time, at Al Minaa Olympic Stadium in Basra. Prior to the game, the UAE and Kuwait face off at 4.15pm.
The last match day in Group B is then scheduled for Friday, when Bahrain take on Kuwait at Basra International Stadium and Qatar face the UAE at Al Minaa, both kicking off simultaneously at 6pm.
The top two teams move on to the semi-finals on Monday next week, with the final scheduled for 19 January.
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