Sport | Football
Both teams brimming with self-confidence
Oman and Saudi Arabia yesterday said they were not playing for second place and that winning the 19th Gulf Cup was all that mattered.
- By Yasir Abbasher, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:33 January 16, 2009
Muscat: Oman and Saudi Arabia yesterday said they were not playing for second place and that winning the 19th Gulf Cup was all that mattered.
"The second and last are same," Fawzi Basheer, Oman's midfielder, told Gulf News.
"History never remembers the team that comes second. It only mentions the champions. We will not be satisfied if we don't win the title. We know very well the strength of Saudi Arabia, but we too are a good team, and we have determination, will and the support of our fans," he said.
"It is our best chance to win the Gulf Cup," Ali Al Habsi, the Omani goalkeeper who also plays for the English club Bolton Wanderers, said. "We cannot afford to squander this golden opportunity at home in front of our supporters. We will never get a similar chance in the near future."
"The two teams are of almost equal standards," Esmail Al Ajami, the Oman midfielder, said. "It is difficult to predict who will win the match, but we have the advantage of playing at home. We did not have this advantage in the last two finals.
"The Saudis are a good team and we respect them a lot, but I believe they, like us, will play an open game to win the title and playing an open game against us might be the first wrong step they take."
Meanwhile, the Saudi players also agreed that winning the title was the most important thing.
"At this stage, nothing will count except the title." Yasir Al Qahtani, the Saudi striker, said. "We have reached the final. All our past results have been forgotten and everyone is talking about who will win the Gulf Cup. After the final, nobody will talk about the other team that came second.
"Oman are a good team, but so are we. The final will be a thrilling encounter as both teams are determined to win the trophy. I hope our experience will help us to emerge victorious."
"I am determined to keep a clean sheet till the end of the tournament," Waleed Abdullah, the Saudi goalkeeper, told Gulf News. "I have a good, solid defence helping me to achieve my goal and I am determined to do my best. It is only 90 minutes that separate us from the Gulf Cup."
"We will win the Gulf Cup," Ahmad Al Faridi, the midfielder, said. "It will not be easy to beat Oman on their own turf but it is not impossible. Kuwait succeeded in preventing them from scoring in the opening match and we can do better and score against them. One goal might be enough to win the title."
Both teams are brimming with self-confidence and have gifted players. The pressures created by the supporters and the will to win will have a big part to play in deciding the winners of the Gulf Cup.
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