Latest news with #SKBahrain
Daily Tribune
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Women Eye Asian Cup Berth
SK Bahrain's women's national football team are looking to secure a historic qualification for the AFC Women's Asian Cup. With the qualifiers set to begin later this month, hopes are high that the side can take a significant step forward. The kingdom's squad will travel to Yangon, Myanmar, to compete in Group C of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers, where they will face Bangladesh, Turkmenistan, and the hosts. Only the group winner will advance to the final tournament in March 2026. "To qualify now would mean everything. Personally, it would be the proudest moment of my career. But more than that, it would open the door for the next generation of Bahraini girls. It would show there's a place for them in football and that we belong among the biggest teams in Asia," midfielder Farah Khaled told TDT. Path to the Finals A total of 34 teams are competing across eight groups in this year's qualification phase. The top team in each group will join the four already-qualified nations: hosts Australia, along with Japan, South Korea, and China, who finished in the top three at the 2022 edition. Bahrain begin their campaign on June 29 against Bangladesh, followed by matches against Turkmenistan on July 2 and Myanmar on July 5. All Group C fixtures will be played at Yangon's Thuwunna Stadium. It's a competitive yet manageable group, and Bahrain's coaching staff, led by Mohammed Adnan, will be quietly optimistic. The squad has been undergoing preparations, including friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Building Through Futsal Foundations Several of Bahrain's players recently competed in the AFC Women's Futsal Asian Cup in China, where they faced formidable opposition in the form of eventual champions Japan, runners-up Thailand, and Indonesia. The crossover between futsal and 11-a-side football is significant, particularly in terms of close control, pressing intensity, and decision-making under pressure. These are exactly the qualities Bahrain will need in a tightly packed schedule where games come thick and fast over just seven days. Near Misses, New Ambitions Bahrain have yet to reach the AFC Women's Asian Cup, but they are no strangers to the qualification rounds. Their closest attempt came in 2017, ahead of the 2018 edition in Jordan. That year, they finished two points short of progression after winning two of five matches. "That 2017 campaign still stays with us. We were so close, just two points away, and that feeling of nearly making it has driven us ever since. It reminds us that qualification is within reach, and it's been a huge part of our motivation in training and every qualifier we've played," said Farah. Their first experience came back in 2013 during qualifiers for the 2014 tournament, where they earned one win in three games. It was a modest beginning that laid the groundwork for a more structured women's football programme in the years since.
Daily Tribune
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
New Partnership Boosts Skills and Markets for Bahrain's Productive Families
SK Bahrain has launched a strategic partnership aimed at uplifting 'productive families' by equipping them with modern skills and expanding their access to markets. This initiative, backed by key government bodies and private sector collaborators, is designed to help home-based businesses—often run by families—transition into sustainable ventures. The partnership focuses on offering specialized training programs, business mentorship, and platforms to showcase and sell products both locally and internationally. Officials emphasized that this effort aligns with Bahrain's broader economic vision, aiming to diversify income sources and foster self-sufficiency among families. By unlocking the potential of these small enterprises, the project also aims to preserve traditional crafts and promote Bahraini culture through local products.
