Here comes the start of the Journey.

On 9th of February, the Bahraini Football team will embark on a journey that could end with their greatest achievement ever: qualifying to the world cup. Can you imagine that? Us in the world cup? How great would that be?

Anyway, let's not get carried away. First things first: WE HAVE TO BEAT IRAN ON WEDNESDAY.

Not a win, not a draw, but only a win will do.

Why? Other than it would provide the perfect start to us, I HATE THE GODDAMN IRANIAN FOOTBALL TEAM.

Now don't get me wrong: I like Iran. I like the country, I like the people, and most of all I adore their women. However, when it comes to football, I HAVE NOTHING BUT LOATHING FOR THEM.

Why? Well there are deep philosophical reasons, and there are pretty simple reasons.

The deep reason is the nationalism that can come out in sports, and how sports can healthily divert antagonism from wars and politics and into the pitch. All the problems Bahrain has had with Iran over the past decades can be brought out on the pitch, instead of in real life.

The other reason is pure spite. I hate the arrogant, cheating, sly, sleazy players and the tactics they used. I can't remember the last game I've seen Iran play without a couple of players being sent off, especially against Bahrain. The Iranians still hold a grudge against us for not letting them qualify to the last World Cup, and we need to gain vengeance for our defeat in the last Asian Cup. Should make for a good game!

Hence, over the next four days, I'm going to blog continuous posts about this occasion, and why we need to beat those arrogant good-for-nothing but cheating Iranian players.

Let us today look at the Iranian internet coverage of the game.

Here is an article that neatly encapsulates their view of us.

I urge people to check out the main site from which this article comes from, and see how the Iranians are one above us by attempting to do some sort of (mediocre) analysis of our team and the circumstances surrounding the game. Maybe we should learn from them.

Now other than the pretty shit english, the (unjustifiably) arrogant attitude, and the inexplicable ediotic mentality of thinking somehow Iran's team is better than everyone else, the article has a point: Football in Bahrain is in decline.

Now I've talked about the problem of our players not being rested and defensive problems that we have in a previous post. However, there is a much deeper long term problem.

I was discussing this with a cousin not too long ago, where I predicted football will be dead in Bahrain within ten years. He disagreed, saying football is already dead in Bahrain. Now this guy is a hadrcore Bahrain and Muharraq supporter, and he told me how he'd go to Muharraq games against teams like Al Shabab, although he does not even know who the hell Al Shabab are, but just because he adores Muharraq. All the last games he's gone to recently, there were only about 3 people in the stadium: Him, the 7ajji selling 7ab (sunflower seeds), and a bored na6oor (security guard). Even the rabe6a (supporting band) have given up going. Basically, NO ONE GOES TO GAMES IN BAHRAIN, except to those of the national team.

The reasons? Well look at the shit football pitches we have. Our national stadium is a shambles, reaching the stage of not being used for any football games for the last 2 years. My college's football pitch is infinitely better than any pitch we have in bahrain. How do you expect to develop a solid youth football foundation if there is no where for them to play? How can the authorities explain forking out $300 million on a risky venture such as the formula one while not being able to fork out even one million to build a decent to football pitch?

Admittedly, the wide availability of live european football in every household has had a bad effect on local football attendances as well. Why would someone fork out 1BD to go watch mediocre football when he can watch the highest class football for free in the comfort of his house or while smokeing a sheesha? This is a problem I don't know how we should deal with.

Then we have the overly beauracratic and sometimes corrupt system we have for running football and sports in general. Some sort of solution has to be found, or football will be six feet under very soon.


Anyway, it's not all gloom. We currently do have a very good (although overworked) team, and hopefully they can pull something off. I unfortunately cannot attend the upcoming game, being five thousand miles away, but I urge everyone to show support for our national team and help them whoop some Iranian ass!

Oh yeah, and it's the Arabian Gulf, not the Persian Gulf. Now watch how how a tiny nation that you wish was a part of your country whips your hairy asses!


update: Can anyone please let me know a way to watch the game online, as I am desperate. I haven't been able to find the Bahraini sports channel online, and I can't think of anywhere else that would show it. Does anyone know a link to the Iranian state channels or any other channel that would show it? Please let me know!

¶ 3:40 PM