Bahrain relishing Gulf Cup semis berth
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Head coach Helio Sousa expressed his delight with Bahrain’s qualification for the semi-finals of the 25th Arab Gulf Cup and for moving one step closer to getting the opportunity to defend the coveted title they currently hold.
The nationals secured their place in the final four following a 1-1 draw with Kuwait on Friday that earned them first place on the Group B table.
They now take on Group A runners-up Oman in tomorrow’s semis, while Group B runners-up Qatar face off with Group A winners Iraq in the other last four contest.
“For us, we are taking things game by game and to conquer with all of the capacity and competence we have, and the chance to play one more game in the competition, we are very happy with that,” Sousa said in his post-game Press conference late Friday night.
“We will go enjoy that opportunity to try to win again and fight for the cup in the end, if we pass our next game.”
The Portuguese tactician said that the nationals should have put their semi-final clash away early on, especially with multiple chances in the first half against Kuwait.
“We knew that it would be a hard game; there were some conditions for us and for them and the other two teams, and we must play with all of that, and our guys made a fantastic job,” Sousa said.
“We had in the first half three or four clear chances; we scored one and after that we must kill the game. If we made it 2-0 then it would be a little bit more easy for sure, but it kept being hard.
“In the second half, it was a little bit more of the same, but with this fantastic crowd, with our fans who helped us to be stronger during the game, I think we made a very good performance again.” Sousa said that he is pleased that Bahrain is now being mentioned in the same breath as other top teams in the Gulf.
“We have to be happy that we are being mentioned among all those teams that have fantastic work and are much more above us on the FIFA World Ranking,” Sousa said.
“We are finding our way to be near them and fight with them.
We can be proud if people consider us as strong as those teams.” Sousa stressed once again the importance of Bahrain’s entire squad for them to achieve their immediate goal in the Gulf Cup. “We have 23 very good players; not one good player,” he underlined. “Our team will never win because of one player.
It will be because of the 23. “Not even the 11 who start the game. We don’t have any player more important than the other one. All of them have the same importance.” Bahrain’s match with Oman tomorrow will be played at Al Minaa Olympic Stadium with an 8.15pm kick-off, Bahrain time.
Qatar and Iraq face off at Basra International Stadium at 4.15pm. Bahrain national team administrator Yahya Buallay and media coordinator Mohammed Abdulghaffar participated yesterday in the official technical meeting for the semi-finals.
A review of all organisational and administrative matters related to the games was conducted. It was also decided that the Bahrainis will be wearing their red kit against Oman, who will wear white uniforms.
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