مدربو المنتخبات الخليجية يكشفون طموحاتهم قبل انطلاق بطولة الخليج للناشئين «المجموعة الثانية»

The coaches of the teams in Group B of the Gulf Cup for Under-17 Youth Championship confirmed their readiness to compete in the tournament that kicks off on Saturday in the Qatari capital, Doha, praising the exceptional organization and highlighting the various goals they aim to achieve through their participation in this edition.

First, Saudi Arabia's coach Abdulwahab Nasser Al-Harbi spoke, confirming that the tournament represents a golden opportunity for his players to experience an atmosphere similar to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. He said: "We thank the State of Qatar for the hosting and organization, and Saudi Arabia's participation in various categories is always a commitment to support Gulf football. We were unable to bring all the players due to their commitments with clubs, but this participation provides the current group with a unique experience."

Iraq: Ready to Deliver the Best

Iraq's coach, Jose Maria, stated that his team aims to benefit from the tournament as an important stage in preparation for upcoming Asian competitions. He added: "We are ready for this participation and strive to deliver the best, as the competition gives our players the chance to play under official pressure, which we need before the Asian U-17 qualifiers."

Bahrain: A Project to Build the Future

Meanwhile, Bahrain's coach, Hugo Clingingor, emphasized that the tournament is an opportunity to refine young players within a national project aimed at developing age categories. He said: "We are at the beginning of a project led by the Bahrain Football Association to support youth and age category teams, and the tournament is an ideal stop to gain experience and exposure. Our preparations are good, and we are ready for the challenge."

Kuwait: Perfect Timing Before the Qualifiers

For his part, Kuwait's coach, Tarek Al-Khalifi, explained that the tournament comes at a perfect time before the U-17 Asian qualifiers in November. He added: "We started preparations about a year ago, and this participation represents a strong test for the players against distinguished Gulf teams, and an opportunity to maximize our benefit before the qualifiers."

The Gulf Cup for Under-17 Youth Championship features eight teams, with Group B consisting of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait, while Group A includes Qatar, the UAE, Oman, and Yemen.