FUTSAL – A 14-player Bahrain women’s futsal national team arrived in Thailand yesterday to take part in their qualifying competition for the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025.
The Bahrainis, coached by Brazilian Marcelino Gomes, are one of 19 squads playing in four different qualification groups – each being held at separate locations – for the right to claim one of nine available berths in the continental showcase, which will be held in China in May of this year.
The qualifiers are scheduled to kick off on Saturday and continue until January 19. Each of the pools are being hosted by one nation.
Bahrain are in Group A along with hosts Thailand, Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq. The kingdom’s roster is spearheaded by the talented trio of Hessa Al Isa, Shaikha Alanood Al Khalifa, and Manar Ebrahim.
The rest of the team includes Leleeya Sabkar Jawed, Ameera Bader Swar, Fatima Hamad Alnusuf, Rawan Nabeela Alaali, Eman Rashed Alkhatal, Rose Fayez Tobila, Sama Amjad, Amina Hamad Aldoseri, Shoog Abdulhaleem Alalwani, and goalkeepers Zahra Nezar and Hiba Salem Alhabishe.
The team list was confirmed to the GDN yesterday by team manager Raed Baba.
The Bahrainis are scheduled to open their qualification bid on day one when they face Lebanon at 12.30pm. They take on Iraq on Monday next week at 12.30pm, and then play hosts Thailand on January 17 at 3.30pm. The nationals battle Palestine in their final game on January 19 at 12.30pm.
All times are Bahrain, and all the group games will be held at Nonthaburi Stadium in the Thai city of Nonthaburi.
Group B features hosts Indonesia, Hong Kong, Pakistan, India, and Kyrgyzstan; while Group C is composed of hosts Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Australia, the Philippines, and Kuwait. There are only four teams in Group D, including hosts Myanmar, Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, and Macau.
The top two teams from each pool, along with the best third-placed side overall, will book their tickets to the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup, which is set to take place in China from May 7 to 18, with a field of 12 teams.
The nine qualifiers will join China, Iran, and Japan in the tournament. The Chinese have an automatic spot as hosts of the event, while Iran are the two-time defending champions and Japan are the reigning silver-medallists.
This year’s championship is set to be the third edition of the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup. Bahrain are looking to qualify for only the second time in the tournament’s history. They had also played in the previous event in 2018, while a competition was also supposed to be held in 2020, but was forced to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bahrain have been gearing up for the tournament locally under the supervision of Gomes and his staff, while also playing a number of friendly games against other national teams participating in qualifying.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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