FOOTBALL – BAHRAIN’S Sitra kick off their campaign this evening in the 2025-26 Gulf Club Champions League.
The kingdom’s representatives will be taking on Al Ain from the UAE at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Their opening Group A clash of the tournament’s preliminary round is scheduled for a 6.30pm kick-off, Bahrain time.
This year’s competition is the second edition of the regional championship, which is being organised by the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF), headquartered in Doha, Qatar.
Sitra and Al Ain are also in the same pool as Zakho from Iraq and Al Qadsia from Kuwait, who clash in tonight’s other divisional fixture at Zakho International Stadium in Iraq. Sitra head coach Isa Al Saadoun said during his pre-match Press conference yesterday that his team has had high-level preparations for the competition and his players are focused on putting on a good performance.
Al Saadoun highlighted that they are determined to get a positive result away from home, especially considering that Al Ain are a big team in Asian football with top-class professionals.
Group B in this year’s Gulf Club Champions League features Al Shabab from Saudi Arabia, Al Nahda from Oman, Al Rayyan from Qatar, and Al Tadamun Hadramaut from Yemen. They begin their tournament campaign tomorrow. Following their game tonight against Al Ain, Sitra next face Zakho at home on October 22.
They then go up against Qadsia at home on November 4, before playing the Kuwaitis away on December 23. On February 10 of next year, they host Al Ain and then complete their Group A schedule away against Zakho on February 18.
Sitra are the lone team flying the Bahrain flag in the championship after finishing an impressive third amongst 12 clubs in the 2024-25 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.
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