Launch of Aldyar Alarabiya WAFF U19 Championship in Taif

2024-06-24
15:10:19

The Aldyar Alarabiya WAFF U19 Championship kicks off tomorrow (Tuesday) in Taif, Saudi Arabia.

The tournament will run from June 25-July 5, 2024. Organised by West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), it features 12 teams: hosts Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bahrain, UAE, Oman, Yemen, Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and special guests Albania.

The invitation to Albania, a non-regional team, aligns with WAFF’s strategy to expand participation and allow national teams to compete against diverse opponents, thereby gaining varied experiences.

The draw, held on June 18, resulted in six first-round matchdays. Hosts Saudi Arabia open their campaign against Yemen.

Other matches include Oman vs. Kuwait, Iraq vs. Jordan, Lebanon vs. Albania, Bahrain vs. UAE, and Syria vs. Palestine. All matches will be played at King Fahd Sports City and Okaz Club Stadium.

At a press conference held on Monday, the participating teams' coaches discussed their preparations. Marcos Suarez, head coach of the Saudi Arabia U-19s, emphasised the importance of participating in this tournament to gain experience, noting that preparations have been at the highest level.

Yemen's head coach, Mohammed Al-Baadani, highlighted his players' readiness for tomorrow's match and the significance of this tournament as preparation for the upcoming Asian Cup qualifiers. He expressed full confidence in his players and their determination to win every match.

Kuwait’s head coach, Dario Basic, talked about his team’s readiness and good preparation for the tournament, describing it as the first step towards the Asian Cup qualifiers.

Oman's head coach, Ahmed Al-Alawi, stated that this tournament is an excellent start for Asian preparations, affirming his team's full readiness.

Jordan’s head coach, Peter Meindertsma, commented on his team’s full physical and fitness readiness, highlighting the distinction of his players.

Iraq’s head coach, Haidar Jabar, noted the importance of their first-round match against Jordan, as it always indicates the team's readiness. He also emphasised the significance of competing for the title.

Albania's head coach, Alban Bushi, expressed his happiness to participate in this tournament for the first time, stating that his team will strive to achieve positive results.

Lebanon’s head coach, Bilal Fleifel, emphasised that his goal in this tournament is to build team spirit and showcase the players’ character, which is his main objective.

Syria’s head coach, Mohammed Aqil, expressed his gratitude to WAFF and Saudi Arabia for their warm hospitality. He noted that the Syrian team has a promising future, describing it as golden, promising the fans an impressive performance.

Bahrain’s head coach, Ali Sanqour, stated that his team is very ambitious and well-acquainted with the other teams. He aimed to perform excellently in this tournament, emphasising that winning is the most crucial aspect of football.

He also noted that the positive pressure on the players serves as motivation.

The technical director of the UAE national team, Salim Abdulrahman, spoke about the importance of participating in this tournament. He cited the presence of many ambitious young teams, noting his team's readiness for the tournament as it helps prepare for Asian Cup qualifiers.

Abdulrahman also hoped to benefit from the technical aspects and gaining experience during the tournament.

Finally, Palestine’s head coach, Sajed Karakra, expressed his gratitude to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation for their warm welcome. He acknowledged that the Palestinian team’s preparations were not sufficient, but assured that they would strive to prepare well for the matches.