Muharraq Begin Asian Quest Two-time champions face Arkadag in Turkmenistan opener

TDT | Manama

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Muharraq begin their AFC Champions League Two campaign today when they face Turkmenistan's Arkadag at Arkadag Stadium.

The Group B opener kicks off at 4.45pm, Bahrain time, with the Red Wolves arriving on a high after picking up their first domestic win of the season last Thursday.

The Bahraini champions share the group with the UAE's Al Jazira and Iran's Gol Gohar Sirjan, with the four sides playing each other home and away.

Interim coach Adnan Ayoub put the finishing touches to his plans during the team's final training session in Turkmenistan.

"We know that we are facing a strong team with a number of quality players, some of whom represent their country," Ayoub said at yesterday's pre-match press conference.

"We have analysed the team and prepared for the match in the required way. We expect a tough contest and will go into it with focus and confidence to produce our best."

Ayoub also stressed the responsibility that comes with representing the club.

"Our aim is to represent Muharraq in a way that reflects its history and stature, and to produce a good match and a performance worthy of the club's name and supporters."

That history includes two triumphs in Asia's second-tier club competition. Muharraq first lifted the AFC Cup in 2008 before winning it again under Isa Al Saadoon in 2021.

Al Saadoon's second stint in charge recently came to an end after the side took just one point from the opening two matches of their domestic title defence.

The AFC Champions League Two replaced the AFC Cup as the continent's second-tier tournament from the 2024-25 season.

Veteran goalkeeper Sayed Mohammed Jaafar was part of both title-winning sides and knows better than most what success in Asia requires.

"We know how important the start of any competition is, especially the first match," Jaafar said.

"We know our opponents have good players and we have the information that will help us approach the game in the right way. We came here to perform well and will give everything we have to achieve the result we are looking for."

The veteran is among a 24-player travelling squad that also includes Vladan Dekic, Ashraf Waheed, Husain Jameel, Amine Benaddi, Bruno Santos, Ahmed Bughammar, Ahmed Rabeea, Mohamed Al Banna, Abdulla Al Khalasi, Hasan Al Karrani, Mohamed Al Hardan, Abdulwahab Al Malood, Soufiane Mahrouk, Ahmed Al Sherooqi, Hanan Abdulwahab, Anderson Leite, Arthur Rezende, Rijad Kobiljar, Abdoul Karim Diarra, Facundo Tobares, Husain Abdulkarim, Edimar da Ribeiro da Costa Junior and Abdulla Jamal.

Venezuelan midfielder Bryant Ortega, who recently joined on loan from Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad until the end of the season, was not included in the travelling list published by the club.

Meanwhile, the kingdom's other representatives, Al Khaldiya, open their Group A campaign against Uzbekistan's Nasaf tomorrow at Bahrain National Stadium at 7pm.

Goran Tomic's side enter an internal camp today before holding their official training session at the National Stadium at 5.30pm. Nasaf, who were due to arrive in Bahrain last night, are scheduled to train at the same venue at 7pm.