Coaches of the teams participating in the Gulf Cup for U-17 football, set to kick off Saturday in Doha, highlighted the tournament as a key step in building a generation of players with valuable international experience.
Spanish coach Alvaro Mejia, leading the Qatari U-17 team, said the competition offers “an important test” as Qatar prepares for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in November. He added that the tournament will help players gain experience, refine their skills, and adapt to different levels of competition.
Iraq’s Jose Maria Zarco echoed the sentiment, noting his team is in good shape and the timing of the tournament is ideal for assessing player readiness.
Saudi Arabia coach Abdulwahab Nasser al-Harbi emphasised the value of the Gulf Cup in preparing for upcoming events, including the World Cup, despite missing some players due to club commitments.
Bahrain’s Croatian coach Olewo Klingor praised the organisation and described the tournament as “a major challenge and an important step” in developing young talent. Kuwait’s Tariq al-Khelaifi said the competition will aid preparations for Asian Cup qualifiers next month, while Yemen’s Samer Mohammed Saleh highlighted the opportunity for first-time international players to gain exposure.
UAE coach Majid Salem Al Zaabi stressed the tournament’s role in preparing his squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, and Oman’s Ahmed Bait Saeed expressed enthusiasm for the strong competition and opportunities for interaction.
The tournament opens tomorrow with Iraq facing Kuwait at 6pm at Grand Hamad Stadium, followed by Saudi Arabia vs. Bahrain at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium. Qatar will start its campaign tomorrow against Yemen at Grand Hamad Stadium, alongside UAE vs. Oman at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on September 30, with the final scheduled for October 3 at Grand Hamad Stadium.
