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CELEBRATIONSare planned this weekend for mighty Al Malkiya, the VIVA Bahrain Football League minnows that have captured the hearts of a soccer-crazy nation by sweeping to success and glory.
They have beaten the odds and conquered their illustrious rivals to clinch the league title for the first time with a game to go.
Despite having to face Riffaat KhalifaSports City Stadium in Isa Town on Saturday, it will be a day of merriment as Al Malkiyaare officially crowned First Division champions with a cup and medal presentation to follow.
Coach Ahmed Saleh Al Dakheelexclusively told GulfWeekly: “Alḥamdulillāh, we are all so excited and thrilled as it’s our first time winning the title.
“We have been working hard all season and we didn’t know what to expect, but we kept at it and are over the moon!”
The team, captained bystriker Sayed Ali Essa, hailing from a little village on the road to Zallaq, emerged as champions after the Manchester United of the kingdom’s soccer scene Muharraqlost 3-2 to Al Hiddearlier in the week.
Al Malkiyahas secured 33 points with a match remaining and Muharraqwere left with only 29 points and can no longer catch up despite also having one remaining fixture on the same day against normal title challengers East Riffa.
Al Malkiyahave stepped up the ranks after taking third place last season.Al Dakheelused to coach the team back in 2002 before moving tovarious clubs including Manama and only returning to take the side forward to glory at the end of 2015, said: “We have finally achieved our dreams to be Number One. I watched this squad improve after every game and always believed they were strong.
“Fromthe beginning of the season, our original goal was to stay in the top three and hopefully improve on that. Of course, we dreamed of being Number One but our main objective was not to do any worse than last season.
“However, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the players, on and off the pitch, the constant support of the club and its management and, not forgetting, the undying devotion of the fans that never missed a game … and with the grace of God … we made it to the summit. I’m very proud of howfar we have come and would like to thank everyone who has supported our efforts for making this dream a reality.”
During the season the team recorded a string of impressive results, inflicting 2-1 defeats on Muharraqand Al Hiddand beating East Riffa3-0. “We grew in confidence,” explained the coach, “especially after defeating Muharraqwhich is not just the toughest team in Bahrain but also known across the region for their fierce competitiveness.
“I’m confident about the future – if we continue at thisrate we can only get better. We don’t want to be a flash in thepan, the good hard work continues.”
Although it’s his players’ first championship winning medals, they’ll have to collect a hatful more to catch up with their coach. Al Dakheelproudly holds a huge number of accolades from his sporting youth, both from the athletic track – he was 100m and 200m national champion - alongside football, basketball, weightlifting and tennis medals.
Al Malkiyaonly stepped up into the kingdom’s 10-strong top division in 2012 after a gruellingtwo-legged victory over fallen giants and former champions Al Ahli Club in a dramatic end-of-season relegation/promotion play-off.
The current squad is made up of mostly locals from Al Malkiyaand surrounding west coast villages, strengthened by only four foreign imports from Egypt, Moldova, Mali and Nigeria who have settled in well with their Bahraini teammates.
The players might be from a small village with limited facilities but what they lack in equipment, they make up for in heart. It is a community full of players that live and breathe the sport and a football pitch that appears to be the centre-piece attraction of the village.
