Khaldiya Target Winning Asian Start

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Al Khaldiya launch their AFC Champions League Two campaign tonight when they host Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Qarshi at Bahrain National Stadium in Riffa.

The Group A encounter kicks off at 7pm, with the hosts aiming to capitalise on home advantage and secure maximum points.

The competition is the Asian Football Confederation’s second-tier club tournament and was rebranded from the AFC Cup ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Croatian coach Goran Tomic, appointed before the new season, finalised his plans during yesterday’s training session at the match venue.

His side enter the contest in encouraging form, having recorded two wins and a draw from their first three Nasser bin Hamad Premier League fixtures.

“We are in good shape and have produced some strong performances in the league,” Tomic said.

“This is a difficult group, but we do not consider ourselves inferior to any of our opponents. We will compete in every match with the aim of reaching the knockout stage.”

Tomic also stressed that the team’s greatest strength lies in its collective quality rather than any individual.

His options include Moroccan striker Waleed Al Sabbar, Gleison Moreira, Saifeddine Bouhra, Ousmane Al Hajj, Dominique Mendy, Oussema Shili, Patrick Maswanganyi, Mahdi Humaidan and Sayed Dhiya Saeed.

Nizar Al Othmani echoed his coach’s confidence while acknowledging the challenge posed by Nasaf.

“We know it will not be an easy match, but everyone is fully prepared,” he said. “Our goal is to take all three points and begin the competition well.”

The visitors bring considerable continental pedigree to Riffa. They won the AFC Cup in 2011 and reached the final again in 2021, losing 3-0 to Bahraini champions Muharraq.

Established in 2020, Khaldiya are still seeking their first Asian title. They qualified after finishing one point behind Muharraq in last season’s domestic title race.

The club will also be determined to improve on their previous continental campaign, when they placed third in their group and missed the round of 16.

The UAE’s Al Wahda and Kuwait SC complete Group A and meet in Abu Dhabi at the same time tonight. Each side will play six home-and-away matches, with the top two progressing to the knockout stage.

Today’s fixtures form part of a wider programme of AFC Champions League Two action, with Groups C, D and E also getting under way.