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GV Bahrain stadium
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GV AND SV players receiving circuit exercise from Jack Mansell and Alf Willey (7 shots)
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GV players inside stadium.
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CU children watch as players receive instruction for penalty taking (4 shots)
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GV players practising ball control.
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Initials RH/1645 RH/AMN/AH/1700


SPORT: FOOTBALL

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Bahrain's national football team has stepped up its training in preparation for the Gulf Cup championship which begins at the end of March.

The cup is hotly contested annually by the Gulf States -- Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. This year the field will be widened with Iraq and Oman competing.

All teams engage expert coaches from abroad. These are mainly British bur Kuwait has the Brazilian Mario Zaghalo, former manager of world champion, Brazil. It is reported he is being paid a massive fee.

Bahrain is no exception and this year is training under England's Jack Mansell who has been with such teams as Brighton, Cardiff City, Portsmouth, Reading, two Dutch teams and more lately with Galatasaray, Turkey.

With Mansell is Alf Willey a physiotherapist, formerly with Sheffield United, Rotherham United.

The Bahrain National team is now in its training camp which was formerly part of the British Royal Navy's Base known as HMS Jufair which Britain handed over 1971. They are also practising at the Isa Town stadium.

The championship will take place in Qatar this year where a vast new stadium is being built.

SYNOPSIS: At the Isa Stadium the Bahrain National football team is in fierce training preparing for the approaching Gulf Cup championship. Like many Middle Eastern team, Bahrain has engaged a top coach from abroad. He is England's Jack Mansell who has experience with many British teams including Brighton, Cardiff City and Reading. His latest assignment was with Galatasaray, Turkey. With him is physiotherapist Alf Willey. Together they are setting a fast pace for the hopeful Bahrain players.

The championship starts later this month in Qatar where a new stadium is being built for the occasion.

The Bahrain team is based at its training camp, formerly part of the British Royal Navy's Base HMS Jufair, which was handed over five years ago. The Bahrain team will meet teams from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Iraq in the competition.