ONE of Bahrain’s most popular football leagues will be kicking off its fourth season on Monday, January 23, after a six-month absence.
The Bahrain Expat League will feature 11 sides, with players all over the age of 25, and fixtures will be staged on the newly-renovated artificial pitches at the British School of Bahrain in Hamala.
Champions Oak FC will be aiming to keep hold on the title although they are likely to face tough competition, in particular from Challenge Cup holders, The Dilmun Club.
The other challengers are Saar Eagles, St Christopher’s, British Club, Jurassics, Olympique Paribas, Trust Reinsurance, Arabian Celts A, and new teams to the contest, Arabian Celts B and White Star.
Chairman of the 12-man organising committee David Lord, suffering a nose bleed following Tottenham Hotspurs unlikely rise up the English Premiership, said: ìWe are all tremendously excited about the new season after such a lengthy lay-off."
Each team will play each other once for the league title and the sides will also play for the coveted GulfWeekly Cup in an end-of-season bid for glory.