Football-mad Bahrainis will flock to the Bahrain National Stadium today to witness the King Cup final between three-time winners East Riffa and newcomers Al Khaldiya in a game that promises to be a cracker.
East Riffa are looking to add to their tally of titles but will have to contend with the determined flair and grit of newbies Al Khaldiya – a club that was only formed in October, 2020 and who, in their first full season in top-flight football in the kingdom, are surprise finalists.
Al Khaldiya’s has been a dream run of the sort usually depicted in popular cinematic stories about newcomers, or underdogs, beating overwhelming odds to triumph over adversity.
They will be hoping to see their rapid rise to the final culminate with a team celebration on the victory podium.
But East Riffa, who were last crowned King Cup champions in 2014 after having won back-to-back titles in 1999-2000, might have other plans.
They looked supremely in command when they beat reigning champions, Riffa, 2-0 in their semi-final in February and will hope to carry their performance from that game into the all-important final.
In addition, East Riffa will benefit from the experience of having been finalists before – a psychological advantage that can work effectively against first-time finalist opponents.
They will be up against a team, though, that has routinely confounded expectations throughout the tournament.
It was evident in the manner that Al Khaldiya won their semi-final 2-0 against the more fancied Al Najma side that neither a big occasion nor more experienced opponents intimidate them.
Al Najma managed to create several scoring opportunities in that game but Al Khaldiya were determined not to let them breach their defences.
When the tables were turned and scoring opportunities presented themselves to the Al Khaldiya forwards, they ensured that they didn’t miss their targets.
If they exhibit the same, fearless brand of football that has carried them through to the final, Al Khaldiya supporters will hope that it proves enough once again to get them over the line.
Regardless of which side emerges as the winner, the stadium will reverberate throughout the game with the chants, cheers and applause of spectators for whom football is more than just a mere sport: it is a passion.
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