BAHRAIN’S national soccer team will be given the ultimate Ballarat experience while training for the AFC Asian Cup.
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Visits to Sovereign Hill and Ballarat Wildlife Park are on the agenda for
the 23-man team, who are expectedto arrive in town early Saturday morning.
The international soccer side is one of the many teams training for the 2015 Asian Cup, which kicks off in Melbourne on January 9.
Novotel Forest Resort Creswick has booked 35 of its rooms for 43 people –
including the team, coaches and medical staff – until January 7.
Ballarat’s iconic Gold Bus will transport the team and its entourage from the airport at 2am.
Conference sales executive Therese Dodd said the resort’s kitchen would cater to the players’ special needs.
“It all has to be halal (accredited) food, high in carbs and dairy,” she said.
“We are aware of all their dietary requirements.”
The team will train twice a day, every day, at the Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility in Redan.
Ms Dodd said the players’ schedule was “fairly tight”.
“They have got the Ballarat Wildlife Park and Sovereign Hill as items on their agenda, if they can fit them in,” she said.
She said the resort was honoured to be hosting the team.
The team will play a practice match against Jordan in Ballarat on January 4 and against Saudi Arabia in Geelong on December 30.
Bahrain’s first Asian Cup match will be against Iran in Melbourne on January 11.
City of Ballarat has helped to organise the team’s stay in town.
Former premier Denis Napthine announced in May that Bahrain would train in Ballarat ahead of the Asian Cup.
kara.irving@fairfaxmedia.com.au