FOOTBALL – BAHRAIN lock horns with Saudi Arabia this evening to kick off their campaign in the Gulf Cup for Veteran Players 2025, which gets underway in Kuwait.
The Bahrainis are in Group B in the competition’s preliminary round alongside the Saudis, Iraq, and Yemen. Group A is composed of hosts Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Oman.
The eight teams are vying for the cool $200,000 in prize money to be awarded to the champions, while the runners-up will take home $150,000.
The tournament is for players aged 40 years old and above, according to regulations set by the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF). Matches will be played over 40 minutes with two 20-minute halves. The number of substitutions is open, and VAR technology will not be used, said the AGCFF.
Speaking in his pre-game Press conference yesterday, Bahrain head coach Khalil Shuwair said that the competition is a positive initiative by the AGCFF that reflects the development of football in the Gulf. He added that the success of the tournament is of utmost importance, and that Bahrain’s chances of competing for the title are equal with the other teams.
Bahrain have 23 players on their squad list. They include Ali Hassan, Ali Saeed, Ali Aamer, Ghazi Al Kuwair, Hamad Rakea, Mahmood Abdulrahman, Mohammed Abdulla, Mohammed Hubail, Talal Yusuf, Rashid Al Dosari, Hussain Ali, Ahmed Hassan, Khaled Jassim, Saleh Abdulhameed, Mohammed Bashir, Faouzi Aaish, Musa Mubarak, Mohammed Salman, Basil Sultan, Murtadha Abdulwahab, Mahmood Ayad, Hadi Ali, and Yasser Al Amer.
Following tonight’s clash, which is scheduled for a 6.15pm start, the Bahrainis take on Iraq tomorrow at 9.15pm, and then face off with Yemen on Monday at 4.45pm. All times are Bahrain.
At the end of the single round-robin, the top two from each group move on to the semi-finals, which are scheduled for February 25. The final is then set to take place the following night on the competition’s concluding day.
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