I read todays papers and still no news of us playing Jamaica.
Where did you guys hear this?
Thats what they want us to believe so they wouldn't get scouted...
you watch way too many TV shows
thats what "they want" you to believe
---------------------------------------------------
Bahrain call off Jamaica clashBy VIJAY MRUTHYUNJAYA and RAMI HULAYYEL
BAHRAIN'S joy after winning a friendly over Panama 5-0 did not last long as their second friendly against a more competitive team Jamaica was cancelled at the last minute yesterday. Bahrain's World Cup preparations was thus further hit as the unavailability of 11 professionals playing in Qatar and Kuwait had already affected the team's training ahead of the World Cup final playoff clash against Trinidad and Tobago on November 12 (Port-of-Spain) and 16 (Bahrain).
The two teams are vying for a place in the 2006 World Cup to be held in Germany next year.
"The Jamaica friendly is cancelled," confirmed Bahrain team manager Abdulrazzaq Mohammed yesterday. "But we are trying to arrange friendlies against other Concacaf region teams. I have already faxed a few request letters and am waiting for a positive reply."
Bahrain was to fly out on Sunday or Monday to Jamaica for a week-long training camp and a friendly clash on November 8 or 9 before reaching Port-of-Spain for the do-or-die showdown.
Mohammed refused to divulge the reason for the last minute cancellation of the Jamaica friendly, but the web site of a Caribbean newspaper yesterday said the hosts "asked for a fee of $350,000 ... leaving (Bahrain) officials looking for a replacement venue in Honduras or Venezuela".
The final playoff has already attracted world attention as much for its contrasting cultural sideshow as for the fact that both Bahrain and Trinidad are aiming to book their first-ever berths in the World Cup.
Bahrain's limited exposure against teams from South American and the Concacaf region is also a big worry for coach Luka Peruzovic of Belgium.
Bahrain had met a team from the Americas only once before the 5-0 drubbing of Panama on Thursday, and that was 20 years ago when they were beaten 2-1 by Paraguay in another friendly clash.
Peruzovic is aware of the problem and admitted it after the Panama friendly. "We are not familiar with the culture of their game and we hope not to start learning about it on the day of the playoff," said Peruzovic who took over from Croatia's Serco Juricic halfway through the 2006 qualifying group stage.
Peruzovic was also pragmatic when he put into perspective the 5-0 result against Panama as the visitors were without a string of key players who had plotted their team's way into the final of the Concacaf Gold Cup in the US.
"Panama used a lot of young players against us. I am not excited about the result, but I am happy that my players got the feel of what it's like to face such teams," said Peruzovic who was also forced to field a second-string team in the absence of 11 professionals, including seven regulars, away on duty in Kuwait and Qatar leagues.
Peruzovic, however, had something to cheer him up as first-choice goalkeeper Ali Hassan resumed training, while leading striker Hussain Ali's form has been encouraging for his club Al Garafa in the Qatari league.
Bahrain beat Uzbekistan on the basis of away goals rule while Trinidad finished fourth behind the US, Mexico and Coasta Rica in the Concacaf region to book berths in the final playoffs. [/i]
Show Posts
