FOOTBALL – BAHRAIN’S Al Khaldiya are looking to continue their winning tradition as they embark on their journey in the all-new AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two) tonight.
The back-to-back champions of the Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League face off with Al Taawoun FC of Saudi Arabia in their opening Group B game in the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) second-tier club competition, which has been rebranded ahead of the start of the new season.
Khaldiya are the lone Bahraini side taking part in the 32-team tournament, and they are aiming to represent the kingdom in the best way.
“Khaldiya was founded in 2020, and in four years we have achieved five championships,” Khaldiya head coach Ali Ashoor said last night in his pre-game Press conference at the National Stadium in Riffa.
“We are proud of what our club has done, and we now start another participation in this AFC event.
“We hope to provide a good performance tomorrow against Taawoun to satisfy our ambitions. We respect their team, but in the game we will show what we are about.”
Last Friday, Khaldiya captured their second successive Bahrain Super Cup, which they have now won for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. Those add to their successive league titles over the same years, plus their triumph in the 2021-22 His Majesty the King’s Cup – the richest trophy in the national game.
“We are proud to be the first Bahrain team to be participating in the ACL Two,” Ashoor added. “We hope to represent the country in a good way, and tomorrow we will do our best to play a great match.”
This evening’s fixture is scheduled for a 7pm kick-off at the National Stadium.
Khaldiya’s star midfielder Mahdi Humaidan echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“This is our first match of the ACL Two and we have prepared well,” he said yesterday at the same conference. “We hope we can get a good result at the end of the game.”
Meanwhile, Taawoun head coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena said that he has scouted Khaldiya’s squad thoroughly in order to be fully ready for tonight’s clash.
“Khaldiya have very good players, some of whom are with the national team, and a good coach,” said the Argentinian in his own Press conference yesterday. “We analysed a friendly game they played before the start of the season and their match in the Bahrain Super Cup last week.
“I also have a good relationship with (former Bahrain national team head coach Juan Antonio) Pizzi; I asked him about some players and their characteristics and he gave me some good information..
“We will try to do our best in the match and avoid making any mistakes. We want to play good football and seek the three points.”
Taawoun’s Brazilian midfielder Flavio Medeiros da Silva added that their team have been looking forward to competing in the ACL Two. “We did everything last season to qualify for this competition,” he said alongside Arruabarrena.
“We will concentrate on achieving our objectives; we have started our local league well, and we will do everything to be champions of this competition.”
Also yesterday, the pre-match technical meeting was held between the two sides and the teams’ uniforms that they will wear today were presented.
The two sides trained last night at the National Stadium.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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