We are playing an important match: Hassan Al Haydos
KUWAIT CITY: Qatar captain Hassan Al Haydos on Friday said his team
won’t be taking Yemen lightly on Saturday when the two teams clash in
their Gulf Cup opener.
“We have an important match with an ambitious Yemeni team. We know
them well. They are a talented side with players who have very good
individual skills,” Al Haydos said on Friday.
He added: “Their players help them create real problems for any team
they face so we will be very careful in this match. All our focus now
is on the first game against Yemen. This is a tough competition. We do
not take any side lightly. It is the same with Yemen.”
After their game on Saturday, Qatar take on Iraq (Dec 26) followed by
a game against Bahrain (Dec 29).
The 23rd edition of the Gulf Cup – the region’s most popular football
tournament for national sides – has Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and
hosts Kuwait in Group A.
Qatar squad: Saeed Al Shaeb, Yousuf Hasan, Mohamed Al Kubri, Pedro
Miguel, Assim Madibo, Akram Afif, Hassan Al Haydos (captain), Almoez
Ali, Abdullah Al Harq, Bassam Al Rawi, Al Mahdi Ali, Abdulkarem Salim,
Ahmed Fatehi, Hamad Al Obaidi, Mohammed Muntari, Ahmed Yasser, Ali
Fareeuddin, Abdulkarem Hassan, Musab Kheder, Ismail Mohammad, Karim
Boudiaf, Othman Al Yahri and Ahmed Moein
Coach: Felix Sanchez