“This is a moment that will be in my memory until the end of my life,” Bahrain head coach Dragan Talajic told the GDN last night, talking about the grand celebrations led by His Majesty King Hamad of the national team’s epic title triumph in 26th Gulf Cup.
The Bahrainis returned to the kingdom amidst much hype yesterday on a special chartered flight from Kuwait City. They were greeted at the Royal VIP Lounge of Bahrain International Airport by Supreme Council for Youth and Sport (SCYS) first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Bahrain Football Association (BFA) president Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa travelled with the team and he personally handed Shaikh Khalid the Gulf Cup winners’ trophy.
The Bahrainis were then taken by a pair of buses to the National Stadium in Riffa on a parade that was joined by hundreds of fans in their cars and motorbikes, passing by thousands more admiring supporters who lined up the streets along the way.
Bahrain players on their bus along the highway en route to the National Stadium from Bahrain International Airport
At the National Stadium, His Majesty was on hand, along with his representative for humanitarian work and youth affairs and SCYS chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and several other high-ranking officials.
The national team’s players and staff joined the thousands in attendance in the colourful programme, celebrating their historic success. The festivities featured individual presentations for the players and Talajic, live music, flames, and a stunning fireworks display that lit up the night sky.
Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid also joined the team in lifting the Gulf Cup trophy in front of the fans on a specially built stage.
“This is something unbelievable – my boys deserve these kinds of things,” Talajic told the GDN. “They played great matches and they did something unbelievable for us.
His Majesty with Talajic
“His Majesty also made a holiday for my boys, and this was something unbelievable as well.
“Inshaallah, we will continue to make everyone proud of us during our World Cup qualification, and we will celebrate some more together.”
Bahrain players, from left, Sayed Hashem Issa, Komail Al Aswad, Mohammed Jassim Marhoon, Sayed Dhiya Saeed, and Ebrahim Luthfallah during last night’s celebrations
Bahrain’s veteran goalkeeper Sayed Mohammed Jaafar, who skippered the 2019 squad that won the kingdom’s first-ever Gulf Cup title, shared Talajic’s sentiments.
“It is so great to see this environment and to see the people all happy, going out to celebrate with us,” he told the GDN. “Thanks to all of them.”
Shaikh Khalid waves to fans from the team bus
When asked how this championship differs from the first, the Muharraq Club standout said: “The first will always be the first, but our players performed very well throughout this tournament as well, and thank God we are the champions.”
Star midfielder Mahdi Humaidan added: “It is so amazing to see our fans, all the Bahraini people, enjoying this moment.
“His Majesty the King is here, he is also enjoying the moment, and that is the most important thing and the happiest thing on this day. Let’s enjoy it!”
Up-and-coming young forward Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei had an extra-special Gulf Cup in Kuwait. At just 16 years old, Alwadaei made his international debut for Bahrain at the senior men’s level, and also became the youngest-ever player to appear in the competition.
He expressed his delight in this and his ambitions to represent the kingdom for many more years to come.
“I am very proud to represent my country,” Alwadaei told the GDN. “It was an unbelievable moment when I entered the pitch.
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“When you play in your first match, you gain more confidence, and my teammates motivate me. Hopefully, I’ll be able to play more with the national team.”
Bahrain won all but one of their matches in the 26th edition of the major regional competition. They defeated Saudi Arabia 3-2 in their first Group B game and then took down defending champions Iraq 2-0 to secure their spot in the semi-finals. They then lost 1-2 to Yemen in a non-bearing encounter, before beating Kuwait 1-0 in the last four to book their date with destiny.
Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid bring the Gulf Cup trophy to join the national team on the specially built stage
In the final, a penalty by Mohammed Jassim Marhoon and then an own goal by Oman helped them come away with the 2-1 win and the title.
The nationals also took home $1million in prize money from organisers the Arabian Gulf Cup Football Federation. Oman came away with $750,000 as runners-up.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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