Bahrain stepped up their preparations last night for their highly anticipated title showdown with Oman tomorrow in the 26th Gulf Cup in Kuwait.
The kingdom’s senior men’s football national team held an evening training session yesterday at Qadsia Club in Kuwait City, under the supervision of head coach Dragan Talajic.
“We have reached the final and I am so proud of my boys, how they are playing in this tournament,” Talajic told media yesterday at the team’s training.
“I am happy for them and I am happy for all Bahraini people who are coming to support us – we are making the kingdom very proud of us.
“This upcoming game is going to be very difficult. We respect Oman a lot. They have also shown unbelievable quality. The game is 50-50 before the start, and inshaallah luck will be on our side.
“I am only thinking only about Oman, and inshaallah we will make our people proud of us.”
There was an enthusiastic atmosphere amongst the players, according to team officials. They were in high spirits in their practice on the pitch, and they showed tremendous focus as they continued to gear up for the final, which is scheduled to be played at Jaber International Stadium tomorrow evening with a 7:30pm kick-off, Bahrain time.
Prior to their work last night, the Bahrainis had some time to rest on Wednesday evening after their epic 1-0 victory over hosts Kuwait on Tuesday, sending them through to the championship contest. Earlier, on Wednesday morning, the players conducted recovery sessions in the team hotel, led by fitness coach Matej Filipi.
Also yesterday, Talajic and his technical staff worked on analysing all aspects of Oman’s national team from their previous matches in the tournament, in order to best prepare Bahrain’s players for the final.
Talajic will today be speaking with the media in his pre-game Press conference, scheduled for 1.20pm, Bahrain time. Veteran Sayed Dhiya Saeed will be joining him in the gathering.
Oman head coach Rasheed Jaber will also be taking to the podium with a player from their national team.
Meanwhile, Bahrain will be missing the services of talented forward Mahdi Abduljabbar in tomorrow’s affair following his red card in their victory against the Kuwaitis, earning him an automatic suspension.
The Bahrain Football Association (BFA) officially filed an appeal in this regard with the Arabian Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF), but BFA secretary general Rashid Alzaabi told the GDN yesterday from Kuwait City that it was “not approved”.
Abduljabbar was given his marching orders following his second bookable offence during the second-half of the game. The Al Khaldiya Club standout has been instrumental in the national team’s success so far in the tournament, contributing the Bahrainis’ first goal of the competition in their 3-2 victory against Saudi Arabia.
Both Bahrain and Oman are appearing in their sixth finals in the history of the Gulf Cup, with the Bahrainis eyeing only their second title and the Omanis aiming for their third.
The Omanis punched their tickets with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia in the other game in the semis.
Bahrain will be hoping to add to their lone title triumph in the Gulf Cup’s 2019 edition. Oman, on the other hand, are making a repeat appearance in the championship clash but lost in the 2023 finale to champions Iraq in extra-time. They last won the crown in 2017-18 and claimed it for the first time in 2009.
The tournament champions at the end of tomorrow’s final will come away with a cool $1million in prize money, while the runners-up will pocket $750,000.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
Top stories for today:
Bahrain's exports to UAE top $1 billion
Applications invited for youth peace programme
Interior Ministry takes part in Retro Manama
&uuid=(email))