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VIBRANT Venus have bid farewell to their beloved team captain, Tala Bashmi, in superb style by securing the coveted GulfWeekly-sponsored Bahrain Ladies League title for the third time.
Despite suffering only their second loss of the 11th campaign by a single goal against Arsenal U21, the team, wearing their distinctive black kit, held a determined lead throughout the entire season.
They finished on top of the table with 21 points, one point ahead of their archrivals and former three-time champions, Arsenal Ladies.
On Wednesday evening, the team received their trophy and gold medals from GulfWeekly Editor Stan Szecowka at the Soccer City Stadium in Janabiya. They first won the title back in Season 6 and then again in Season 9.
Venus’s captain and Gulf Hotel chef, Bashmi, 26, from Riffa, is sad to be leaving the squad to continue her culinary journey in Switzerland, but is thrilled with the victory and believes it was well-deserved.
She said: “To win that third title feels amazing, especially because I’m leaving. I told my girls that I’ll be going to get my Masters at the Culinary Arts Academy, so I asked them to please win this season for me … and they did!”
Regular weekly coaching with Arsenal Soccer School Bahrain every Monday had paid off, added Bashmi, and she believes introducing a second training session would help the squad develop even further next season.
Venus originally started as a group of friends who enjoyed a kick around and their passion for football developed and the team attracted players hailing from different nationalities and backgrounds, including Bahrain, Jordan and the UK. The squad is sponsored by Al Reem Centre.
According to Bashmi, they had a rough start to the season as they lost a number of regular players due to injuries. She said: “We started off with 16 girls and after injuries and some leaving due to work commitments; we ended up with a team of only 10 players. We called it the ‘Venus curse’. We all seemed to end up wearing bandages, casts and braces but it’s OK because we are all in it together in the end.
“We were undefeated for most of the season but ended up losing our last couple of games. However, by that time we had already secured the league. I believe it was the first time a team has accomplished winning the title with two games in hand. Although we are not undefeated we are still proud of what we have achieved.
“I’ve urged the girls to just keep winning it without me, keep doing what they are doing and never give up! We have the most heart out of everyone playing in this league and no matter what, we will keep picking each other up, win or lose.
“Our team spirit is what got us the title. During one game we lost our goalie and and we didn’t let one strike get past us. I’m going to miss these girls – they are what I will miss most about Bahrain.
“I’m so proud of how far women’s football has progressed from when I started playing at the age of 13. We have more girls than ever wanting to sign up.”
Venus and silver medal runners-up Arsenal Ladies weren’t the only squads with reasons to rejoice. Seef Dental’s midfielder, Chelsea Huff, collected the acclaimed Player of the Season Award, which Bashmi missed out on by one vote. Seef Dental captain and midfielder Ashleigh Packer-Tannous picked it up on her behalf.
John Mackenzie, head coach at Arsenal Soccer School Bahrain, who has helped organise the latter stage of the league following the departure of the league’s creator Deena Rakman, believes this seasom has been the most competitive yet.
He said: “The Arsenal U21s were pushing the Arsenal Ladies team the entire season and drew with each other with 20 points in the team standings. Had the Arsenal U21s beat Venus by two goals in the last game, they would have won silver. Instead they only scored once and Arsenal Ladies took it on goal difference.
“Venus were very competitive. Between these top three, victory was only secured by a single goal each time. Even the teams playing in fourth, fifth and sixth places were competing for honours. There are no longer games where results are eight or nine-nil. It’s now more often 2-1 or 1-0. It’s a lot more competitive and that’s why we want to push this league to make it more professional.
“Seef Dental is probably the most improved side. RCSI and Joga have had a lot of problems with players. I’m confident next season will prove to be an even more exciting one with up to eight teams taking part.”
The next league campaign is scheduled to start in October and will run until the end of March. Saudi Arabian-based Eastern Flames, who have been missing for the past two tournaments, are planning to make a comeback.
Arsenal Soccer School Bahrain is looking for new sponsors as it attempts to make the competition more professional. Mackenzie said: “Next season should be really good as we will be taking the league to a more competitive level with the introduction of prize money.
“This new league will have more of a professional feel to it with official referees amongst other things. We are currently talking to sponsors about building women’s football in the country and helping it to develop at all levels.”
l To sign up and for more league information, email john@arsenalschoolbahrain.com
