Bahrain's World Cup training hit
Gulf Daily News
THE raging country-versus-club controversy seemed to be heading towards the Bahrain shores late last night as clubs in Kuwait and Qatar were refusing to release top 11 Bahraini professionals for training ahead of the Kingdom's playoff matches against Trinidad and Tobago on November 12 and 16.
The top 11 Bahrain's first team players were expected to join training last night at the Bahrain Football Association ground in Riffa, but coach Luka Peruzovic was forced to make do with the rest of the team while his key men cooled their heels in either Kuwait or Qatar.
Last night's training session was held behind closed doors after all the media representatives and photographers were forced out of the BFA stadium.
Bahrain started their preparations on Wednesday for the first-leg match to be held in Port-of-Spain on November 12. The second-leg match is scheduled to be held at the National Stadium four days later.
The winner of this two-leg match will be clinching their first-ever berth in the 2006 World Cup to be held in Germany.
Bahrain already face a very tricky situation with 11 of their players, including captain Moham-med Salmeen and midfielder Mohammed Hubail and striker Hussain Ali, having already received a yellow card each apart from a few niggling injuries.
Absence
"The situation is indeed worrying and the absence of the 11 professionals is adding to our problems," admitted a Bahrain coaching staff member without wanting to be named.
The national team will embark on a 16-hour flight to Jamaica via London on October 30. Team officials are planning a friendly clash with the Jamaican national team in Jamaica before reaching Port-of-Spain by October 7 or 8.
