FOOTBALL – AL Khaldiya head coach Ali Ashoor yesterday called on his team to show “desire” and “passion” as they aim to secure back-to-back titles tonight in the 2023-24 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League.
Khaldiya head into their match against Al Hala in the 21st and penultimate round of the season with a six-point lead over Muharraq, who are the only other team still with a chance of clinching the crown. Khaldiya can secure the championship with just a single point this evening and with a game to spare, but Ashoor, who is in his first season with the club, said that they must not get ahead of themselves and maintain their focus, while giving their very best effort to wrap up the title race.
“We know that it will be a tough match as our opponents are fighting to avoid relegation,” Ashoor told the GDN yesterday.
“We have to be patient in the game and not be in a rush like how we were in our previous match against Al Shabab. We missed maybe 10 chances in our 1-0 win.
“We must stick to our game plan and our players must fight for the title. Most importantly, we have to show more desire and passion than Hala and we need to have more mental toughness to control the game.
“We may be the favourites against them but this is only on paper. We respect our opponents and we will do everything to win.”
Khaldiya are atop the 12-team league table with 41 points from 11 wins and eight draws in their 20 games so far. Hala are currently in second-to-last place with 20 points, and have just two matches to steer clear of the drop zone or the relegation play-offs.
The 11th and 12th-ranked teams at the end of this league campaign will be directly demoted to Bahrain’s second division for 2024-25, while the ninth and 10th-ranked teams will appear in a play-off against second division sides Al Malkiya and Al Ettihad for the right to claim two spots in next year’s top flight.
Khaldiya and Hala are set to clash at the National Stadium in Riffa. Also this evening, Muharraq will be hoping to keep their title chances alive when they take on Al Najma at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town, but their destiny is out of their hands. Both games are scheduled for simultaneous 7pm kick-offs.
Week 21 action continues tomorrow with the league’s eight other clubs taking to the pitch. Riffa face off with Busaiteen at Al Ahli Club Stadium in Mahooz, Al Ahli face Shabab at Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad, Sitra lock horns with East Riffa at the National Stadium, and Manama take on Hidd at Khalifa Sports City Stadium. The four fixtures are all set to get underway at 7.30pm.
Along with Hala, the teams currently in the bottom half of the table are Sitra, Hidd, East Riffa, Shabab and Busaiteen, with only six points separating them.
The league’s 22nd and concluding round is scheduled to take place on Sunday and Monday.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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