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| May 31, 2005 | Tuesday | Rabi-us-Sani 22, 1426 |
Bahrain face tough test against Japan
MANAMA, May 30: Bahrain’s dream of playing in a soccer World Cup faces its toughest and most tricky test on Friday when they clash with Japan in Manama. The Group B second-leg showdown has generated so much interest in this tiny Gulf kingdom that a local school has given its soccer-mad students an extra day off to study for their final second semester exams which was originally scheduled to take place the day after the match.
Women supporters are also campaigning for a separate stand for themselves while the organisers have decided to throw the gates to the National Stadium, the venue of the match, open free of cost.
The official sponsors, telecom giants Batelco, who have a four-year 1.2-million dollar deal with the Bahrain national team, are not far behind in making the most of the soccer fever as they have already unveiled a new logo and distributed more than 20,000 paper megaphones to their most ardent soccer fans to drum up support for the home team.
A victory on Friday can take Bahrain a step closer to fulfilling their World Cup ambitions but a defeat would certainly force them into protracted playoffs. A draw may still keep their hopes alive but for the staunch Bahrain soccer followers nothing less than a victory will be acceptable.
Bahrai’s interim coach Wolfgang Sidka, however, is optimistic of his teams chances and believes the Gulf side has the capacity and courage to tame the Asian giants with a little bit of luck.
The last time the two teams met, in the first-leg on March 30 in Saitama, an own goal by Bahrain’s Mohammed Salmeen proved decisive while their earlier clash in the semifinal of the Asian Cup in Beijing last year under their then Croatian coach Srecko Juricic was a seven-goal extra-time thriller which the Japanese won before going on to claim the title.
At present both teams have their own shares of injury worries ahead of this high profile clash as striker Naohiro Takahara for Japan and defender Abdulaziz Al Dossary for Bahrain are both doubtful.
Bahrain will also be without two other experienced defenders in Mohammed Hussain and Hussain Baba who will be serving a one-match suspension during the Japan clash.
To fill the defensive gaps Bahrains German coach Sidka, who is on loan from Qatars Al Arabi Club, on Sunday recalled veteran defender and former captain Faisal Abdulaziz into the team.
The return of midfielders Mohammed Salmeen and Rashid Al Dossary, who were rested for the friendly in Riyadh against Saudi Arabia last week which Bahrain drew 1-1, is expected to boost the teams overall strength.
The hot and humid desert weather should be to the advantage of the home team who will be aiming to avenge their own-goal defeat in front of their passionate supporters.
Iran are currently leading Group B with seven points while Japan are in second position on six and Bahrain are in third with four points. North Korea, the fourth team in the group, are at the bottom having lost all three matches.
Bahrain drew their first match against Iran goalless at home, beat North Korea 2-1 in Pyongyang and lost to Japan 1-0 in Saitama. Bahrain take on Iran away on June 8. —AFP
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