Goal Programme - Bahrain Football Association - 2003

Football is the leading sport in Bahrain, who hit the heights in 2002 as runners-up in the Arab Cup and in 1989 when they came fourth in the FIFA U-17 World Championship in Scotland. The national team then reached the second round of the prelimiycompetition for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan? for the first time. In the 1990s, Humood Sultan was voted the best player in the region and Mohamed Jaffar the best forward. Mohamed Hussain, who played for top Saudi Arabian football clubs for many years, is also a household name. Most of the teams and tournaments are sponsored by a marketing group that acts as a consultant to the national association.

Since the opening and official inauguration of its new headsby FIFA Executive Committee member and Goal Bureau chairman Mohamed Bin Hammam on 11 May 2003, the Bahrain Football Association has become one of the first assosto receive the Goal Bureau's go-ahead for a second project. The association's proposal was submitted and approvdin March 2004 for a technical centre in Isa Town that will primarily serve to promote further development in youth and women's football. Furthermore, Bahrain's national teams will use the facilities to prepare for international matches. In addition to support from Goal, a considerable amount of Financial Assistance Programme funding has also been used to finance the project.