Bahrain ready for ‘difficult match’ against Kuwait

TDT | Manama                           

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Bahrain faces a tough task against Kuwait tonight but are prepared to make the most of the moment to secure their berth in the semi-finals of the 25th Arab Gulf Cup, national team head coach Helio Sousa says.

The Portuguese tactician said yesterday in his pre-game Press conference that the Bahrainis are totally focused on the task at hand as they embark on their third Group B game to conclude this stage of the tournament.

Bahrain, who are the defending champions, need only a draw to make it through to the final four. A win would also ensure their spot, but if they lose, the two advancing semi-finalists will be determined on the table.

“We did what we must do until this stage of the competition—to play two games and win both of them—but still we did not qualify yet for semi-finals, the next stage of the competition,” Sousa said.

“In short competitions like this, there are many conditions until the end. “Now we just count on ourselves on what we can manage, without knowing what the other teams are doing. We must count on what we can do to pass, not what the others need to do.”

The nationals are currently in first place with six points, while Kuwait and Qatar are on three points each and are still also in contention. The Qataris take on the UAE in tonight’s other divisional fixture. The Emiratis also still have a mathematical chance to advance, depending on tonight’s results.

Both games are scheduled for simultaneous 6pm kick-offs, Bahrain time, with the Bahrainis and Kuwaitis facing off at Basra International Stadium and the Qataris and Emiratis playing at Al Minaa Olympic Stadium.

“It will be very difficult; the last wo games were very difficult, and the Kuwaiti team are now a more consistent team,” Sousa said. “It will be a very difficult game again, but we will do like we try to do every game—to be in the best conditions to try and get the three points again.”

Sousa highlighted that Bahrain will be counting on their entire squad in their game tonight, and it will not matter who starts. “Our main players are the 23 that we brought here; not only the ones who started our first or second game, but all 23 players we have—those are the main players for the competition and we count on all of them,” Sousa stressed.

“We hope to do all to stay in the competition the longest we can. For that we must be able to maintain our performance and the quality of our football depending on who is starting each game.

“We were able to do that so far and we hope to keep doing it again.” Sousa added that the Bahrainis are not thinking about about who they will face in the semi-finals, should they go through. They are only focused on the task at hand, nothing more.

“Our target is to win the next game, to be possible to fight for more things,” Sousa said. “If we can pass to the next stage, then we will think to be in final, but for that we must win the next game.

“We can achieve only what is in front of us. We are prepared for what is coming. We must work for the moment and for what we have tomorrow, and tomorrow is a game against Kuwait.”

Sousa thanked the Bahraini fans who have travelled to Kuwait to support the team, and also all the fans in Basra for what he described as a fantastic atmosphere that has helped boost the players in their performance.