Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Gulf Cup semi-finalists Bahrain begin their bid to qualify for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup against Yemen in Sharjah on Wednesday with coach Gabriel Calderon stressing the importance of making a winning start in Group D.
Bahrain suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat by Iraq in last month's Gulf Cup semi-finals but must quickly regroup for the meeting with Yeman at Sharjah Stadium.
And Calderon's side head into the contest in buoyant mood after midfielder Mahmood Al Ajami scored twice as Bahrain beat Singapore 3-1 on Friday, with Mohammed Duaij also on target.
"The match against Yemen will be like a final match for us as it is really important and we must win it. We are focusing on this match and hopefully we can get a good result before the second important match against Qatar," said Calderon, who arrived with his squad in the United Arab Emirates on Monday.
"We started preparing the team a long time ago and we have chosen certain players for the match against Yemen and we have prepared them well for this match."
Yemen lost all three of their games at the Gulf Cup and coach Tom Saintfeit will be without the services of goalkeeper Sauod Al Sawedi who is getting married this week, while striker Ayman Al Hagri, midfielders Najib Haddad and Munassar Ba Haj as well as defender Nateq Hazem are all ruled out through injury.
"Our task in the Asian Cup qualifiers is not easy as we have been drawn in a tough group and we hope that we can at least win the matches that we will be playing as hosts," said Saintfeit.
"The fact that two teams from the group advances to the finals means that we have a good chance to qualify for the Asian Cup and hopefully we can do that."
Also in Group D, Fahad Thani will look to continue his successful start to his reign as Qatar coach against Malaysia in Doha.
Thani was promoted from assistant coach after the departure of Brazilian Paulo Autuori following the Group Stage exit at the Gulf Cup and he oversaw Thursday's 1-0 win over Lebanon which was secured thanks to a second-half strike from promising youngster Abdelkarim Hassan.
"We have had good preparations for the match against Malaysia especially because we won against Lebanon," said Thani.
"But despite winning against Lebanon, we must not underestimate Malaysia. This is an important match for us as we are also preparing for the World Cup qualifier against Korea Republic next month."
Malaysia, who lost 3-1 on aggregate to Thailand in the semi-finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup at the end of last year, headed to Doha following a 3-0 defeat by Iraq on Friday with head coach K. Rajagobal missing a large contingent of regular players.
With the squad only just having re-grouped following a month off after the AFF Suzuki Cup, Rajagobal will be without Safee Sali, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Wan Zack Wan Haikal and S. Kunanlan due to injury, while captain Safiq Rahim is suspended.
"The chances of Qatar winning are bigger than ours as they are favourites. We know some of the players who will playing against us but our task will not be easy especially because we are missing some key players," said Rajagobal.
"We have a lot of difficulties as the national team is not strong enough compared to other teams, but in football nothing is impossible and we will try our best to get a place in the Asian Cup finals, although Bahrain and Qatar are favourites to advance from the group."