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Leicester City may have produced a football fairytale that has got the whole world in raptures, but in this small corner of the globe, Al Hidd have crafted their own story of glory.
The club have just secured their first Bahrain First Division League title since their formation in 1945 after going undefeated for the entire season, winning 12 of their 18 games. They scored 39 goals and conceded just 15, finishing on 42 points, 10 ahead of runners-up, Muharraq.
The tale is eerily similar to that of Leicester, who clinched their first top-level championship in their 132-year history this season based on an incredible team spirit and will to win against teams in the English Premier League with much more historical and financial clout.
Under the stewardship of Salman Sharida, Bahrain’s own Claudio Ranieri, Hidd have come from relative minnows in the shadow of perennial winners Muharraq and Riffa, to league champions in just a season-and-a-half.
He said: “Last year I joined halfway through the season, and I saw a lot of potential. I knew straight away that we could win the cup competitions, and finish strongly in the league. We were too far back to win, but we finished second and then we won the King’s Cup and the Federation Cup.
“I told the president that we could win the league this year if we signed a few more players. The league is tough, injuries and suspensions happen, so we needed 25 serious players to mount a challenge. He put his faith in me, and I think we’ve repaid it this season.”
However, Salman believes that it was mental attributes rather than physical traits or skill that led to success. He explained: “The team already knew how to play before I arrived. That’s the easy part. But knowing how to win, that’s a whole different level.
“They needed that winning mentality instilled in them, to push for three points in every game, and if they couldn’t win, then to defend like lions for a point and never be beaten.
“Transforming this team is my proudest achievement. I won the league many times with Muharraq, but many coaches have done that. Winning it with Hidd … well only I can say that. I’m so happy for the team and for the fans in the area.”
The similarities with Hidd’s achievements and Leicester’s are startling. Hidd had the chance to wrap up the league title themselves with a win at Sitra, but were held to a 1-1 draw much like Leicester were against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Both clubs were then handed the title after their closest challengers failed to win, with Muharraq falling 2-0 to Manama and Tottenham Hotspur drawing 2-2 at Chelsea.
However, Salman refuses to believe that his team were handed anything. He explained: “Muharraq didn’t give us the championship when they lost. They didn’t give it to us when they won or drew games, either. Those points went to them, not us. It’s not my job to worry about what they’re doing.
“When they lost to Manama, I was actually scouting Busaiteen at the time for our next game and was checking their score on my phone. People asked me why I wasn’t at their game or watching it on TV with the players, but I don’t care for that.
“My only concern was for Hidd’s next game. We went to Busaiteen and won 5-0. That was more important to me than watching Muharraq lose.”
Hidd’s success is largely due to the form of Mohammed Al Rumaihi, who has scored 21 goals in all competitions this season. A brace in Hidd’s final game of the season, a 4-1 success against Al Hala, ensured he finished as the league’s top scorer, even a feat Leicester’s Jamie Vardy could not achieve.
The 25 year-old from Manama, who has played professionally for seven years but only joined Hidd at the beginning of the season, said: “I’m really excited to be part of this team and to be able to win the league for the first time ever is an amazing feeling and makes me so proud.”
Mohammed trains with the team every evening after working his day job with the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF). He recently earned his first call up to the Bahrain national team for the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers against Yemen and Uzbekistan, scoring against the former.
“It’s been an amazing season for me. I must thank the entire team though, we really work together,” he added. “They are the ones who have helped me achieve my goals and I hope we can win the league again next season.”
The Hidd team were fully aware of Leicester’s exploits, and used them as inspiration for their own campaign. According to Salman, the Hidd players would gather together to watch Leicester games and cheer for them, believing that the team they were watching showed a chemistry and communal bond that matched their own and would lead them to push each other to succeed.
Salman explained: “We’ve been following Leicester very closely. Local football fans have been calling our team ‘Leicester’ because we are so similar, and in a way we feel like we are Leicester. We wear the same blue shirts and have the same love amongst our squad.
“Most importantly, my players now have that winning mentality and know how to be champions. I think either myself or another coach can win the league or cups again year after year, and Hidd can become another big club like Muharraq and Riffa. They have the ability and now the knowledge to succeed.”
