THOUSANDS of football fans will cheer on Muharraq as they take on Uzbekistan’s FC Nasaf at the AFC Cup final tonight.
Around 10,000 people are expected to pack the Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad as the 17th AFC Cup kicks off at 7pm.
Both teams will be looking to win for the second time as Muharraq was crowned champions in 2008 and FC Nasaf in 2011.
Muharraq coach Isa Al Sadoon will line up international players Sayyed Mohammed Jaffer, Abdelwahab Al Maloud, Walid Al Hayyam and Rashid Al Hooti in addition to their professional teammates, Brazilian Flavio, Jordanian Noor Al Rawabda and Mahmood Al Mardi.
Bahrain’s most successful club side had a campaign to remember this term, knocking out two former champions –first title holders Al Ahed of Lebanon who were emphatically beaten 3-0 in the West Zonal Semi-finals and three-time champions Kuwait SC who were dispatched 2-0 in the Zonal Final.
“We have prepared for this match the same way as we prepare for any other, the players have undergone rigorous training and they fully understand the importance of the game,” Al Maloud said, in an interview published on the official AFC website yesterday.
“We are now feeling less pressure having beaten former champions Al Ahed and Kuwait SC.
“Now in the final we also face a team that has won the title, but they are in a way similar to us in that they haven’t won the title in 10 years.”
Meanwhile, Sayed Mohammed Jaffar, who won this title in 2008 said incredible effort would be needed to win the final.
“I won this competition in 2008, but the vast majority of our group were not part of our team then. They have not won a continental trophy, so I hope they too get to experience this amazing moment,” Jaffer was quoted as saying in the official site.
“Our opponents are not an easy team, and we should be prepared in a way that befits a continental final and hopefully we will then be the winners.
“I have amazing memories of winning the title and I hope I get to live it again.
“We are a totally different team to that of 2008 and we face different opponents, so I think it will be nothing like that final.”
Following directives by Muharraq Football Club president Shaikh Ahmed bin Ali Al Khalifa, entry to the game will be free with the stadium expected to be packed at full capacity.
The game will be broadcast live on Abu Dhabi Sports from 7pm.
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