Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Gulf Air-sponsored Queens Park Rangers hope a brilliant Columbian-born diamond will shine this season and help the club in its quest to reach its ultimate destination ... the Premiership.
And new manager Jim Magilton urged fans in Bahrain to support the London side with its links to the kingdom and backed Bahrain to beat Saudi Arabia in its forthcoming nail-biting World Cup play-off clash.
In an exclusive interview with GulfWeekly, he said: "Continue your wonderful support. We're going to have ups and downs throughout the course of the season.
"It's important that we grab your attention right from the start, which is what we intend to do. But also recognise that there is a building process to do. We're craving stability and we're looking for a very, very quick start. If we can do that, who knows where it can take us?
"The players have all adapted to a different manager and a different style brilliantly, and they have applied themselves terrifically well. Through that application we have been able to gain some really good results over pre-season.
"We want to finish better than the 11th place we managed last year, and we want to be in and around that promotion pack. It's very important with the players that we have that we are in contention."
Magilton says he has been particularly impressed with teenage forward Angelo Balanta, who, although born in South America, has progressed through the Queens Park Rangers' youth system.
"There's always one that comes through," the manager explained, "and we've liked him since day one. His whole attitude towards training and the physical demands we put on him has been excellent. Also, the tactical and technical demands we've put on him. He's come through well."
The nineteen-year-old was in the starting line-up for the first match of the season on Saturday against Blackpool, now managed by former QPR favourite, Ian Holloway.
Peter Ramage salvaged a point for QPR as they finally found a way past keeper Paul Rachubka in the 86th minute. The home side dominated the match but Ben Burgess' first-time effort from Gary Taylor-Fletcher's pass gave the Seasiders the lead at the break.
Ramage's low shot snaked through a packed area to level the game late on. The goal was the defender's first in more than 100 career appearances.
It looked unlikely that Magilton's men would have to wait so late for a goal as Heidar Helguson rattled the bar and Adel Taarabt fired straight at the keeper in a commanding performance.
And the competition is not going to get any easier. The manager admitted: "I think the three relegated teams from the Premiership (Middlesbrough, West Brom and Newcastle United) are always going to be in contention. You can't dismiss them by any stretch of the imagination. And, then you've got your Sheffield Uniteds, your Readings, your Ipswich Towns, your Swanseas. There's probably a batch of 12 or 13 teams who have a realistic chance of getting promoted."
QPR, known by their fans across the world as the Superhoops, are away at Plymouth this coming Saturday.
The Loftus Road club has staged training sessions for youngsters at the Gulf Air premises in Isa Town and the first team hoped to visit the kingdom to play a friendly with the Bahrain national side earlier in the year. The visit had to be cancelled because it clashed with important regional FIFA meetings and Magilton said he hoped the club would receive an invitation to return.
"I would love to come over there to see you all. That would be wonderful," he said as he urged Bahrain to secure a World place in South Africa by first beating Saudi and then New Zealand in the final play-off fixture.
"We'll be cheering you on from here and wish you the very best of luck," Magilton said. "I hope you get the right result and I hope you achieve that goal. It would be great."
Magilton is the seventh manager since flamboyant Flavio Briatore took over as chairman less than two years ago.
The former Northern Ireland striker signed a two-year contract to succeed Gareth Ainsworth, who was in his second spell as temporary manager.
Magilton follows Ainsworth, Paulo Sousa, Iain Dowie, Luigi De Canio, Mick Harford and John Gregory in taking the post under Briatore, who is keen to get the small west London club into the Premier League. Formula One supremo Bernie Ecklestone also has a stakeholder and regularly attends matches.
The club is playing in a new look home jersey this season which retains the traditional hoops in reflex blue and white, but the Lotto Sport Italia logo is positioned at the top of the centre of the jersey, with the QPR club crest situated half an inch below. The Gulf Air logo is now placed within the blue hoops, matching the signage around the club's Loftus Road stadium.
