FOOTBALL – BACK-TO-BACK champions Al Khaldiya were crowned last night as they wrapped up their campaign in the 2023-24 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League.
Having already secured the title last week, a 0-3 loss to relegation-threatened East Riffa in their season-ending fixture yesterday did not deter their celebrations at the National Stadium in Riffa.
Khaldiya were awarded their winners’ trophy by Supreme Council for Youth and Sport first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
“We are very happy and proud that we are champions of Bahrain,” Khaldiya head coach Ali Ashoor told the GDN. “It was a very long season. Everybody tried very hard and gave their maximum.”
“We deserve this,” star forward Ismaeel Abdullatif added.
Fellow-veteran Sayed Dhiya Saeed said: “It was a hard season. We just want to say thank God we have taken it two years in a row. We are thankful.”
Despite their big victory, East Riffa’s season is still not over as they remain in danger of dropping down to the second division. They, along with Hidd, will have to compete in a relegation play-off alongside division two sides Al Malkiya and Al Ettihad for two berths in next season’s premiership.
Al Hala, on the other hand, joined Busaiteen yesterday as the two sides automatically going down.
Hidd’s 2-1 win over Al Najma last night was not enough to push them out of the potential drop zone, while Hala suffered a 0-3 loss to Al Ahli, sealing their fate.
Escaping from having to appear in the play-offs were Al Shabab and Sitra. Shabab came away with a 3-2 victory over cellar-dwellers Busaiteen in their season finale, while Sitra played out a 1-1 draw with Muharraq.
League action comes to a close tonight with the last game of the 22nd round between Riffa and Manama, scheduled for a 7.30pm kick-off at the National Stadium.
In East Riffa’s win yesterday, Sami Al Hussaini put the victors ahead after tapping in from inside the six-yard box in the 53rd minute off a cross by Ahmed Kori. Jassim Khelaif made it 2-0 with a header in the 65th, and then Sami Al Doseri made no mistake in a one-on-one with Khaldiya goalkeeper Mohammed Al Gharabli to apply the nail in the coffin in the 72nd minute.
The loss was only the second for Khaldiya after 22 league matches this season, while East Riffa claimed their sixth win.
In Hidd’s win against Najma, Mohammed Eid scored in the 30th minute from close range to give Najma the advantage. But Hidd equalised four minutes before the break through Jacques Medina Iemopele, before Kumail Al Azm sealed their win 10 minutes from full time.
Hidd posted their sixth win while handing Najma their ninth loss.
Hala’s relegation was confirmed against Ahli. Abdulla Al Hashash broke through for Ahli in the 53rd minute, and then an own goal by Hala’s Abdulla Mohammed added to their woes in the 61st. Sayed Mahdi Sharaf sealed Ahli’s ninth victory of the season in the opening minute of second-half stoppage time.
A brace from Alyson Romeu Andrade and another goal from Mahmood Al Mosawi helped Shabab claim their win against Busaiteen. Saleh Al Zubaidi gave Busaiteen the edge and then Issa Jehad scored their other consolation.
In Sitra’s draw with Muharraq, Amir Rostai was on target with a spot kick for Sitra in the 36th minute, but then Mubarak Mohammed salvaged the share of the points for Muharraq with a goal in the 81st.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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