Bahrain aims to upset Uzbekistan

Bahrain aims to upset Uzbekistan
Aminul Islam

Kolkata, January 11: The tiny island of Bahrain doesn’t really figure among the best of football playing Gulf Nations. Placed in the lower rungs of FIFA rankings (138), Bahrain is not a force to reckon with, atleast not in the international arena. But following an upset 1-0 victory over Asian powerhouse Iran in the Asian Cup qualifiers, the Bahrain Football Association (BFA) were elated. Although Bahrain didn’t qualify for the final round in Lebanon, the performance did impress the BFA top brass.

The appointment of German coach, Wolfgang Sidka, who has been recruited in October is being considered as a first major step towards the development of football.

A day before their first match against Uzbekistan in the Sahara Milennim Cup, the team’s German coach felt that the chances against the 1994 Asian Games champions are fifty-fifty.

‘‘The team has the potential to upset calculations in the tournament,’’ he said after the team’s one hour practice session at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Eastern Centre here.

But the German coach was visibly upset over the re-scheduling of tournament itinerary. ‘‘It did affect the morale of our side. But we didn’t protest. We were supposed to play Chile on the opening day and now we will play against Uzbekistan,’’ the coach added.

True. The jinxed tournament has already posed a problem or two for the participating teams. Cameroon, Iraq had pulled out while Indonesia was scratched after they insisted to allow them play with seven foreing players. However, the tall and well built coach said that the team is ready to perform on Friday.

About the opponents, Sidka said:‘‘We saw the Uzbeks against Japan on Wednesday. They were not to so impressive. The defence appeared shaky particularly the two sidebacks. We will try to capitalise on that.’’

Truly. The Uzbek defence struggled to keep the marauding Japanese attackers at bay in the opening match particularly in the second session.

On Friday, if they are to stay alive in the tournament the former Asian Games champions must put things in order for a victory against their unpredictable opponents.