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The Bahrain Football Association last week decided to part ways with national team coach Milan Macala, pictured above. The Czech took charge of the team in 2007 and led the side through their long World Cup qualifying campaign and the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
His departure was by 'mutual agreement'. Macala, who has been coaching in the Gulf region in other countries like Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, was also a part of the Czech Republic national team in his younger days.
An official statement released by the Bahrain Football Association stated that they were very happy with the services given by Macala, but his failure to guide the team into the World Cup Finals after a narrow defeat to New Zealand forced the officials to think of a replacement.
The new head coach's major challenge will be to guide the side through the group stage of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup tournament in Qatar. Bahrain face regional soccer power houses South Korea and tournament favourites Australia, as well as footballing minnows India.
The 20th edition of the Gulf Cup football championship will be played in the Yemeni cities of Eden and Abyan on November 22 through to December 4.
In a press conference that followed a meeting of heads of the GCC, Yemen and Iraq football associations, chairman of the Yemeni Football Association Sheikh Ahmed Saleh Al Issa said it was decided during the meeting to confirm Yemen as a host of the championship.
Al Issa also said that the GCC countries, Yemen and Iraq also affirmed support to Qatar's bid to host World Cup 2022 and to Iraq's bid to host the 21st edition of the Gulf Cup.
