Manama, Aug 28 (BNA) — His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received, at Safriya Palace today, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and Chairman of Bahrain Olympic Committee, Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, whom introduced to HM the King members of the Board of Directors of Bahrain Football Association and members of Bahrain Olympic football team, whom recently won the 5th Huawei Gulf Olympic Football Cup tournament that held in Bahrain.
The HM the King delivered the following speech:

We wish to congratulate you and ourselves with this result that takes us to the old days of Bahrain when teams started playing football since the 40s and 50s and, thank God, achieved good results.

Today, we live in a new era that requires the follow-up, perseverance and collective interest in the team. It is a quick decision, but it is only right that you are our team, the team of Bahrain, and under our full care because there is no game that matches football in popularity in Bahrain and the world. Teams have now reached high levels of professionalism and progress.

A young athlete should know the way he will take since the start, and God willing, your path will be very clear for you.

An athlete works hard as long as he has the ability to perform, this is the goal we want to achieve.

Your positive results were based on the chairmanship of His Highness Shaikh Nasser of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and his passion for competitions and challenges. You have accepted the challenges and were able throughout the tournament to win one match after the other.

It is wonderful to play to high standards, but turning into professional players that requires the concerned authorities to prepare programs and demands that the players be receptive, meaning that they should devote their time and clear their minds as professionalism is equated with the representation of the nation according to the best levels.

We do not wish to have our strong competition against our brothers and beat them. We want the competition to be against the other teams so that the joy of the victory is felt better. Maybe one day, we will have a unified Gulf team.

Today, and despite the deplorable circumstances in which you have no part, you have accomplished this achievement and brought joy and elation to all. Even if it is for a short period of time, people have set aside all the woes that are plaguing the world, including problems, misunderstandings and instability.

However, I feel that our region, thank God, is on its way to the stability that relies on its people and the potential and on reputation of the country.

Yesterday, when you lifted the cup, the act was highly appreciated by your brothers in the Arabian Gulf. They too long for the day when they can lift the Cup as you did. This is a wonderful thing that motivates everyone to do it.

My greatest pleasure, and after your approval, is to place this team under the auspices of the Royal Guard and Bahrain football Association and we will personally be on your side as football has always been a hobby for me, but the responsibilities took me away from it.

One victory after the other and the great results reinvigorated the idea and we will work together to achieve it.

Our teams only need successful management and adequate programs. We are always on the podium whether we top competitions or are placed second or third. We accomplish our achievements with the minimum cost and thanks to tremendous efforts of players.

However, training and management should be developed. They need better equipment and means.

Clubs need training camps abroad to have more interaction and participation with the rest of the worlds’ teams. All such needs must be integrated in the programs made by the Association’s officials.

I am greatly pleased today to meet with you as you represent all the Bahraini youth.

Thank you.

For his part, Shaikh Nasser expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to His Majesty the King, whom congratulated them on their achievement, underling the great support given to the youth and sports movement in Bahrain.
HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad also praised the outstanding Performance of the players, stressing the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports will spare no effort to promote the sport sector at all sporting events.

MJ

BNA 1723 GMT 2013/08/28