To Naturalize Or Not Naturalize?

14 November 2009. The day where all of the Middle East will be cheering for Bahrain, the sole Middle-Eastern team still in contention for next year's prestigious World Cup in South Africa. The 1st leg of the 2nd playoff round ended in a goalless draw, with the visiting Kiwi side who are already celebrating a place in the World Cup. Bahrain coach Milan Macala has voiced his concern over the amount of missed chances in the 1st leg, but is confident that his team has what it takes to book a plane ticket to South Africa.

Bahraini fans fled to the National Stadium in hopes of seeing their team beat New Zealand, but even with the draw, they are confident that their players have what it takes to make their island proud. 2 days ago, Bahrain's strike-force was dented when Ala'a Hubail, the nation's leading goal-scorer, suffered an internal tendon tear which will keep him out for a minimum of 6 months. With strikers, Jaycee John and Hussain Ali failing to find their form in the 1st leg, Bahraini fans have voiced their concerns over their ability to book a place in the World Cup.

This raises the issue of "naturalization". With 4 national team players already naturalized, Bahrain's fans have called on the Bahrain Football Association to accept Leandson Dias da Silva, or Rico as he is known around the island, as a Bahraini national. Supporters believe that this player, who is the current leading goal-scorer of the Bahraini Premier League, can add a whole new dimension to the team. With his blistering pace and deadly finishing, Bahrain's fans believe that the player might be too good for the New Zealand defence to cope with, after failing to cope with the current crop of strikers.

On the other hand, some fans believe that the current group of strikers are good enough to penetrate the New Zealand defence, and score their way into a place in next year's World Cup. They have called on the BFA to not accept Rico as a Bahraini national and to have faith in the current group of strikers.