Bahrain say J’ca too expensive

Yesterday it was announced that the Bahrain Football Association (BFA) officials have decided to cancel the training camp to be held in Jamaica.

The camp was an integral part of the Middle Easterners’ preparations for the crucial first leg play-offs with the Warriors on November 12 and 16 for a spot in the World Cup Finals in Germany next year.

It was reported in the Bahrain Tribune yesterday that the decision was taken due to the high amount that the Jamaican Football Association were charging.

The Jamaica Footbal, Association reportedly asked for US $350,000 to hold the nine-day training camp. Officials said that the total cost would have more than doubled with the cost of tickets and accommodation.

The Bahrainis are now looking to Honduras or Venezuela as alternatives to hold the training camp which is expected to begin on October 31 and last to November 9. Bahrain Tribune also reported yesterday that national team coach, Luka Peruzovic refused to deal positively with the former assistant coach of Trinidad and Tobago, David Nakhid.

Peruzovic, who sat with Nakhid for only half an hour since he arrived in Bahrain, said he did not trust Nakhid and he does not need his help.

Nakhid, a former national team captain caused a storm of protest when it was first reported that he was expected to take up a coaching job with the Bahrain national team in the lead-up to the World Cup qualifiers.

However the ex-midfielder strongly denied any accusations of a sell-out to the Bahrainis insisting that he was offered a job with the Under-20 team and was yet to make up his mind. Also TTFF Media reported last night that Bahrain trounced Panama 5-0 in a friendly match at the National Stadium in Manama. Abdulla Al Dikheel, Ahmed Al Hujairi, Mahmood Abbas, Abdulla Al Marzooqi and Abdulrahman Mubarak were on target for the hosts who are gearing up for upcoming play-offs.

Depleted by the absence of 11 professionals, who are committed to clubs in Qatar and Kuwait, Bahrain’s coach Peruzovic introduced nine players from the bench. Defenders Al Marzooqi and midfielder captain Rashid Al Dossary were the only regular players available.

However, Bahrain showed outstanding co-ordination and harmony throughout the match to claim a well-earned victory the report stated.

Panama, on the other hand, who finished bottom in the CONCACAF Zone of the World Cup qualifiers with just two points from 10 matches, arrived in Bahrain on Wednesday without their professionals who are playing abroad in Colombia and Uruguay, including their star striker Roberto Brown who scored six goals for his country.

The visitors, under their coach Ariel Alvarado who was recently sacked by the Panamanian Football Federation after the team’s poor results in the qualifying round, were unable to trouble the hosts.

Their efforts were foiled by the Bahraini defence of Al Marzooqi, Ebrahim Al Mishkhas and goalkeeper Sayed Mohammed Jaffer, TTFF Media stated.