Bahrain's delegation set to take part in the highly anticipated 26th Gulf Cup arrived yesterday in Kuwait City.
The senior men’s football national team travelled to the Kuwaiti capital with a 26-player squad along with their technical and support staff, led by head coach Dragan Talajic, and Bahrain Football Association (BFA) officials, including BFA secretary general Rashid Al Zaabi.
BFA president Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and BFA vice-president Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Isa Al Khalifa are also scheduled to join the team for the competition.
The nationals were received upon their arrival at Kuwait International Airport by Bahrain Ambassador to Kuwait Salah Ali Al Malki.
The national team were then transported by bus to their residence and in the evening held their first training session in Kuwait City at the pitch of Qadsia Club, under the supervision of Talajic.
Bahrain are in Group B for the tournament’s preliminary round alongside defending champions Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. Group A is composed of hosts Oman, the UAE, Qatar, and hosts Kuwait.
The Bahrainis open their campaign against the Saudis on the tournament’s second day of action on Sunday. The game is scheduled for an 8.30pm kick-off, Bahrain time, and it will be played at Kuwait City’s Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium.
The 26th Gulf Cup officially kicks off on Saturday with a pair of Group A fixtures. Kuwait take on Oman at 8pm followed by the UAE facing Qatar at 10.30pm. All times are Bahrain.
Following their opener against Saudi, Bahrain face Iraq in a Christmas Day game, and then complete their group campaign against Yemen on December 28.
The top two sides in each group at the end of a single round-robin will move on to the semi-finals on December 31. The winners of those games will then battle for the coveted title in the final on January 3.
The tournament champions will pocket $1million, while the runners-up will take home $750,000.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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