FOOTBALL – HOLDERS Al Ahli will take on either Isa Town or Al Ettifaq in the round of 16 of the 2024-25 His Majesty the King’s Cup – Bahrain’s richest annual football tournament.
The preliminary round match-ups for the prestigious competition were determined last night in the official draw, held by the Bahrain Football Association (BFA) at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence and Spa in Manama.
BFA vice-president Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Isa Al Khalifa and BFA secretary general Rashed Alzaabi were among the top officials in attendance.
Representatives from the participating clubs – which include the 12 sides from the Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League and another 12 from the Bahrain Second Division – were also on hand.
Speaking at the draw, Alzaabi expressed the BFA’s thanks to His Majesty King Hamad and to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their support to Bahrain football. He said that the generous royal patronage of His Majesty King Hamad embodies his great interest in the kingdom’s sports sector.
Alzaabi also noted the backing of His Majesty’s representative for humanitarian work and youth affairs and Supreme Council for Youth and Sport (SCYS) chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and that of SCYS first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
In the tournament’s preliminary round, Isa Town’s clash with Al Ettifaq is one of 16 matches featuring clubs from the kingdom’s top-tier and lower-ranked leagues.
The winners of those games will move on to the round of 16, which already includes last year’s winners Ahli, and the seven other teams who finished in the top eight of the 2023-24 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League – Al Khaldiya, Riffa, Muharraq, Al Najma, Al Shabab, Manama, and Sitra.
Amongst the other match-ups in the opening phase, Um Al Hassam play Ittihad Al Reef, with the winners moving on to face Khaldiya in the round of 16; Al Hala play Galali, with the winners next taking on Najma; Hidd play Malkiya, with the winners moving on to face Shabab; Al Ettihad play Budaiya, with the winners next taking on Muharraq; Busaiteen play Bahrain Club, with the winners next battling Riffa; A’ali play East Riffa, with the winners moving forward to go up against Manama; and Tadhamun play Buri, with the winners next taking on Sitra.
The dates of the matches have yet to be released by the BFA.
Ahli won last year’s HM the King’s Cup title after defeating Muharraq 4-2 on penalties in a thrilling final. The match was deadlocked at 1-1 at the end of extra-time.
Ahli clinched the title for the sixth time in the history of the competition. They previously triumphed in 2003, 2001, 1991, 1987, and 1982.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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