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The Bahrain national football team is preparing to step out onto the field and make its mark on the continent’s greatest tournament.
The boys in red will hope to at least make the knockouts of the Asian Cup 2019 when the competition kicks off on Saturday.
They are pooled alongside UAE – the hosts, Thailand and India.
After coming very close to qualifying for the World Cup twice in 2006 and 2010, the national team’s fortunes have taken something of a downturn in recent years. However, under the guidance of Czech coach Miroslav Soukup, performances are improving significantly and the team managed to reach the semi-finals of the Gulf Cup this year.
Bahrain comfortably navigated through the qualifiers to seal their place in the Asian Cup final stages, although there is no doubt that the kingdom enters the tournament as the underdogs and have a big test in their first game against the hosts UAE on Saturday.
Soukup explained: “For many of our players, this will be their first experience to play in the Asian Cup because it’s only once every four years. We have a lot of young players, but I feel they are hungry to win and produce great results for the kingdom.
“Our goal is to qualify from our group and then after that to compete in the knockouts. It’s a tough competition but we will do our best.”
Bahrain will no doubt be relying on star man Abdulla Yusuf Helal. Playing for Bohemians Praha 1905 in the Czech First League, Yusuf is the only player in Bahrain’s Asian Cup squad who is based in Europe.
The 25-year-old attacker became the first Bahraini to join a European top division club when he signed for the Prague-based outfit on loan from East Riffa Club earlier this year.
Yusuf hasn’t looked out of place in Europe either and has been in scintillating form for his club leading the scoring with five and further assisting three in 15 appearances in the Czech domestic league.
If the forward can hit the ground running in the Emirates, he can very much decide the fate of Bahrain in Group A.
Furthermore, a lot will ride on captain Sayed Mohamed Jaffer’s form and the creativity that youngster Ali Madan can bring in the midfield.
With growing confidence and improving team chemistry, a good performance at the Asian Cup will put the team in great stead for the challenges to come.
It’s a prospect that Soukup is relishing. He said: “We are happy that the first game we will play is against UAE after the opening ceremony. It is very positive for us because a lot of spectators will be there and the atmosphere will be amazing. We will be playing a strong home team with a great atmosphere.
“I hope as many fans as possible will come to Abu Dhabi and support the team.”
Bahrain will play UAE on Saturday at 7pm, Thailand on January 10 at 2pm, and India on January 14 at 7pm.
