The Bahraini outfit currently sit eighth in the nation’s ten team premier league but will be the only full-time professional side in the competition, a fact that suggests they may be favourites.
OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas says the addition of Busaiteen to the OFC President’s Cup is a boost for the competition.
“Busaiteen is a welcome addition to the tournament and we’re very fortunate to have attracted a club side so willing to participate during their premier league season.
“I believe this demonstrates the quality of our growing relationship with the Asian Football Confederation, Bahrain FA and, in particular, the Busaiteen club,” he says.
Coach Al Zayani is a former Bahrain international and will rely on the experience of three key players for success.
Busaiteen is skippered by 32-year-old goalkeeper Hussain Haraum who was part of the club’s Bahraini premier league title win two seasons ago.
Adding further intrigue is the presence of two Brazilian players, experienced defender Juliano De Paula, 33, and striker Eliel Guardiano, 27.
De Paula has spent the bulk of his career in Bahrain with Al Muharraq and Al Hidd and has a penchant for scoring important goals in big matches.
The 1.88 metre centre back spent his formative years with Chapecoense, Sport Club do Recife and Náutico in Brazil, now coached by former FIFA World Cup™ winner, Jorghino.
Guardiano, by contrast, was signed in the off-season from Malaysian side Perak following spells in his homeland with Timbaúba Futebol Clube and the Porto Alegre-based Esporte Clube Cruzeiro.
Busaiteen was formed in 1948 as a multi-sports club that included football, volleyball and swimming as its core activities.
The club diversified to include the pursuit of cultural activities such as art, theatre, academia and a proactive social responsibility programme to engage with the youth of the region.
This led the club to change its name to the Busaiteen Sports Cultural Club in 1970.
Busaiteen’s highest achievements include winning the Bahraini Premier League in 2013, a sole Bahrain FA Cup win and reaching the final of the King’s Cup last year.
Busaiteen face Amicale in its tournament opener on 19 November.
The OFC President’s Cup kicks off November 17-23 at the Trusts Arena.
Ends
Busaiteen Squad: 1. Mahmood SHARIF (GK), 2. Mohamed MUBARAK, 3. Juliano DE PAULA, 4. Abdulla BUDHAISH, 5. Mohamed ALI, 6. Abdelkarim KOUSSI, 8. Hesham NAYEM, 9. Mohamed AJAJ, 11. Abdulraham FALEH, 12. Hesam ALMANNAE (GK), 13. Abdulaziz SAAD, 14. Abdulla ALAJMI, 16.Mohamed ALQALLAF, 17. Mohamed ALBADAL, 18. Isa ALROOMI, 19. Mujtaba MALEK, 20. Ahmed MOHAMED, 22. Husain HARAM (GK), 23. Yusuf ALBUSAITINI, 24. Abdulla ALMALIKI, 25. Eliel GUARDINAO, 26. Turki SYEADHEE, 27. Mohamed ASHOOR.
Standby: 30. Salman ALDAKHEEL
Head Coach: Khlifa Hamad Isa ALZAYANI (BAH)
Assistant Coach: Ahmed Jasim Abdulla SOWAR (BAH)
GK Coach: Saadi Mohsin Alwan FATLAWI (BAH)