Bahrain gear up for Warriors

Bahrain, under Belgium-born head coach Luka Peruzovic, resumed training on Wednesday for the matches and the Qatar FA have also offered to release all the Bahraini stars who play there.

At least seven Bahrainis ply their trade in Qatar and their availability will be a big boost for Peruzovic.

In their first session on Wednesday, defenders Mohammed Hussain (Al Ahli) and Hassan Abdulla (Al Shabab), midfielders Abdulrahman Mubarak, Mohammed Sa’ad (both Riffa), Fawzi Ayesh (Muharraq), Rashid Al Sheroughi (Al Hala) and Ali Norooz (Manama) and striker Rashid Jamal (Al Najma) were included in Wednesday night’s practice session at the Bahrain Football Association grounds in Riffa.

Bahrain’s physiotherapist Khalil Rabea said four players — goalkeeper Ali Hassan, defenders Hassan Mansoor, Abdulla Al Marzooqi and Saleh Farhan — did not take part in the training because of niggling injuries but confirmed that all players should be fit for the play-offs.

The team also missed 11 professionals who are committed to their clubs in Qatar and Kuwait but are expected to report for training tomorrow.

Sponsored by Batelco, Bahrain went down two places in the FIFA rankings list and are presently in 55th position while Trinidad moved up three spots to 53rd place.

Certainly their defence, with players like Mohammed Juma, Al Marzooqi and Sayed Mohammed Adnan, looked well-drilled in the play-off with usually potent Uzbekistan, leaking just the single goal.

Building on the progress initiated back in 2002 by German boss Wolfgang Sidka, current coach Peruzovic has his side fit, brimming with confidence and keen for a spot in the World Cup Finals in Germany next year.

It is not just about defensive steadiness, however. Bahrain have in their team a noted goalscorer in Qatar’s Al Gharrafa striker Ala’a Hubail.

The older brother of midfielder Mohammed Hubail who is also playing in Qatar for Qatar Club, was the top scorer at last year’s Asian Cup finals.

Only just back from an eight-month injury lay-off, he came on late in both legs against Uzbekistan and caused more than a few headaches despite not being able to find the goal.

With some more time to rest, the diminutive striker could well spell trouble for Trinidad’s much-scrutinised backline.

With the news of Bahrain’s access to their players for training reaching the TT camp, Pro League Chief Executive Officer Dexter Skeene said his organisation was more than happy to co-operate with the TTFF and coach Leo Beenhakker.

"The Pro League is ecstatic over the success of the national team and the fact that we have reached this far," Skeene told TTFF Media yesterday. "We continue to support the national team and the TTFF in the quest to qualify for the next World Cup and we realise that qualification is integral to the success success of the Pro League and football on a whole in this country.