Yemen coach Ould Ali draws on 'emergency' experience as conflict clouds Gulf Cup

CAIRO, Sept 21 - Yemen's football coach Noureddine Ould Ali believes his experience coping with challenging situations will aid his team's focus during the upcoming Gulf Cup in Saudi Arabia. The eight-team tournament runs from September 23 to October 6, with Yemen as the first team to arrive in Jeddah amidst heightened cross-border hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthis.

Ould Ali, who has worked in various difficult environments as a coach, stated that his background equips him with the necessary skills to guide his team. The Algerian coach emphasized that while it's impossible to entirely shield players and their families from home events, they remain human and can be affected by painful circumstances.

For Yemen, participating in the Gulf Cup provides a rare chance to perform in front of significant numbers of their own supporters. The coach highlighted that hosting the tournament in Saudi Arabia offers an additional boost from enthusiastic fans. Although Yemen faces a challenging Group B, including Asian champions Qatar, the current holders Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, Ould Ali believes that playing against stronger opponents can motivate his team to perform better.

The coach stressed that the Gulf Cup is an objective in itself, separate from the upcoming Asian Cup, and the team will focus entirely on the Gulf Cup.