At the start of qualifying, many strongly tipped Bahrain to progress to the latter stages, to push the established elite for an outside chance of making it to Russia. The appointment of former Argentina boss Sergio Batista bolstered the nation’s hopes, yet within a year Bahrain were out at the first hurdle, bettered by the likes of North Korea and Philippines in what in hindsight can now be considered the “Group of Death.” The generation that had received so many of the plaudits years before were left tarnished and set for the scrap heap.
In retrospect, it looks to have been the perfect kick up the backside Bahraini football needed. It’s never an easy avenue to venture down, but the deconstruction of such a successful side, sometimes bringing in players half the age of their exiting heroes, is a route every prominent team will have to tread at some point.
While individual performances were particularly disappointing, Batista took the lion’s share of the blame (and resulting axe), fitting of course of his somewhat healthy salary. His replacement, a relatively unknown Czech coach Miroslav Soukup stepped into the hot seat, catching his employers’ eye whilst in charge of Yemen, one of the few sides Bahrain picked up points against during Batista’s tumultuous tenure.
His two years in the job to date have been progressive to say the least. Out have gone the familiar faces we all think of when Bahraini football springs to mind; the likes of Ismael Abdullatif, Faouzi Aaish and Abdulla Al-Hazaa. Great names of Asian football down the years, at best fazed out slowly, but generally the established stars were swiftly cut from the new national team set up.
In their place, Soukup has trusted youth, an area in which the coach has a positive track record in, leading his country to the U20 World Cup final back in 2007. The intent was clear in why the BFA plumped for the previously unheralded coach. Bahrain impressed to a degree during their hosting of the U19s Championship in 2016, but by no means can they bank on any sort of like-for-like quality that has exited stage left.
Instead though, there’s been freshness and attacking vibrancy; young untarnished minds ready to be moulded for modern football. Bahrain have quickly stepped into the 21st century; build up play starts from the back, they have energy in wide positions, entrust forward thinking full backs and positional switching that is reminiscent of present day European football.
One player who has benefited most since Soukup took charge has been Abdulla Yusuf Helal. The 25-year-old striker, who went to the last Asian Cup as a promising bench option had failed to kick on either domestically or for the national team since. That’s until the new coach made him the team’s focal point. Towering, physical, with good link up play, Helal brings the best out of those around him, making perfect use of the runs of Abdo Yaser and Jamal Rashid from deep.
His form to end qualification (3 goals in the final stage) engineered a move to Europe, a first for any Bahraini player, to Soukup’s homeland with Bohemians, where the striker has started in the sort of form few could’ve hoped for him a mere two years back.
Hope is that more will follow Helal’s path to Europe. The number of raw products being given opportunities in the national team over the last year is promising given few Asian nations (West Asia in particular) have granted their trust so wilfully. Hamad Al-Shamsan, a ball playing centre back, Sayed Issa, an energetic, overlapping full back, Mohammed Al-Hardan, an impactful centre midfield dynamo and Ali Madan, a right midfielder adept at late runs into the area, are all examples of players who have shown glimmers of talent recently, but the real test will come with the sustainability shown over the coming cycle.
That’s a difficult ask for a fledgling squad that has barely played outside of Bahrain, let alone the midtable reaches of continental football, by no means has it been a smooth ride in terms of results either for Bahrain since Soukup took over. Despite cruising through a modest looking Asian Cup qualification group, they did drop points to Singapore and Taiwan along the way. Goals have continued to flow for Al-Ahmar, however defensively it’s a work in progress that will take time to bed in.
A grasp of hope going into the Asian Cup, is their draw; coming up against Thailand and India, who are both undergoing tumultuous times at present, and the fact they’ve been drawn against the hosts will also be seen as an opportunity. Bahrain produced back-to-back draws against the UAE and Iraq at last winter’s Gulf Cup, a competition where they exited at the semi-final stage to eventual champions Oman. Confidence looks to be thin on the ground in Group A, something many of Bahrain’s players can count on taking to the Emirates after a positive campaign in Saudi Arabia.
They’ve shown before they can mix it at the very highest levels of the Asian game, but a cautionary warning must be heard; they have steadied the ship from their World Cup qualification humiliation yes, but have some way to go to return to the glory days of Abdulatif and Aaish.
Key Men
Head Coach - Miroslav Soukup (CZE)
Former Yemen manager, who left to take over from Sergio Batista after an awful World Cup qualification campaign. Steadied the ship through Asian Cup qualification, producing a younger, more attacking set up. Coached Czech Republic to a U20 World Cup final, where they lost to a Sergio Aguero inspired Argentina side.
Star Player - Abdulla Yusuf Helal
Imposing, physical striker, who looks at home with his back to goal. Become one of the first Bahraini players to break Europe, moving to Bohemians in the Czech Republic over the summer, a league where he’s already started to impress, notching five goals in nine starts thus far.
Under Pressure - Sayed Saeed
One of the old guard that came under criticism during World Cup qualification. On his day he has the ability to inspire the team, but too often misses the spot. The left back or midfielder has remained in the national fold under Soukup but will need to take on greater responsibility as they head to the UAE.
Young Prospect - Hamad Al Shamsan
21-year-old centre back, with a cultured eye for a pass, has accelerated up the national team ladder after promising performances at the Asian Under 19s and the recent Asian Games. Links well with midfield and has the physicality to hold off the attack, his age may be the only thing holding him back from a starting spot at the Asian Cup.
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