‘Juan Pizzi left without official approval, set to return next week'
KUWAIT CITY, April 3: Kuwait Football Association (KFA) President Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef revealed that Argentine coach Juan Pizzi sought permission from the national team manager before leaving the country but did not follow the official procedure for obtaining special leave.
Pizzi departed last week following the Blues' match against Oman on March 25 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Al-Yousef confirmed that the coach is expected to return next week.
Previously, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef had assured that the current technical staff would remain in charge until the end of Kuwait's qualifying campaign in June. Pizzi and his assistants' contracts are set to expire in July.
In his efforts to advance Kuwaiti football, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef has enlisted Spanish legend Carles Puyol as an advisor. Speculation suggests that Puyol may collaborate with his football company to implement a long-term strategy for the sport's development in Kuwait.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef expressed his ambition to expand the Federation's competitions by adding six to eight new clubs next season.
Speaking after the match between Al-Jahra and Al-Jazeera—a newcomer to the Federation's competitions— Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef emphasized his commitment to integrating Al-Jazeera into the league as a model for private sector involvement. He also noted that the Federation has received numerous applications from new clubs, with financial stability being a key selection criterion.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab Times
20 hours ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait shines at Asian Shooting Championships in China
LINFEN, China, June 5: The Kuwait Shooting Sports Club announced that the national shooting team claimed three medals—two gold and one bronze—at the ongoing Asian Shooting Championships in Linfen, China. The tournament features strong participation from across the continent, making this a significant achievement for Kuwaiti shooting. Duaij Al-Otaibi, head of the Kuwaiti delegation and President of the Shooting Club, confirmed that champion shooter Mansour Al-Rashidi won gold in the individual skeet competition. Fellow shooter Abdulaziz Al-Saad secured the bronze medal, while the silver went to a Malaysian competitor. In the team skeet shooting competition, the Kuwaiti trio—Abdulaziz Al-Saad, Mansour Al-Rashidi, and Abdulaziz Al-Faihan—clinched the gold medal, outperforming host nation China, which took silver, and Qatar, which earned the bronze. Al-Otaibi dedicated this victory to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and the people of Kuwait. He praised the shooters' exceptional performances and expressed optimism for further medals as the championship continues through June 10. He also extended his appreciation to the Public Authority for Sports for its consistent support and commended the technical and administrative teams for their efforts in achieving these results.
Arab Times
21 hours ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait delegation heads to Seoul ahead of final World Cup qualifier
KUWAIT CITY, June 5: The Kuwait national football team will depart today for Seoul, South Korea, as part of its preparations for its decisive clash against the host nation next Tuesday. The match marks the tenth and final round of Group B in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The delegation is led by Ayman Al-Husseini, a member of the Kuwait Football Association's Board of Directors, and includes the team's technical, administrative, and medical staff. The squad features 26 players, among them Saud Al-Hoshan, Fahad Al-Hajri, Mishari Ghannam, Reda Hani, Ahmed Al-Zenki, Ahmed Al-Dhafiri, Mohammed Daham, Yousef Nasser, Khaled Al-Rashidi, and Rashid Al-Dosari. Other notable players in the traveling squad include Moaz Al-Dhafiri, Jassim Al-Matar, Mubarak Al-Fenini, Talal Al-Qaisi, Khaled Sabah, Suleiman Abdul-Ghafoor, Abdul-Wahab Al-Awadhi, Hassan Hamdan, Mohammed Khaled, and Hussein Ashkanani. The list is completed by Yousef Majed, Hamad Harbi, Abdul-Rahman Al-Rashidi, Mahdi Dashti, Moaz Al-Aseima, and Fawaz Ayed. The Blues are set to begin training tomorrow evening (Saturday), with the final training session scheduled for Monday at Seoul World Cup Stadium — the venue for Tuesday's much-anticipated qualifier against South Korea.
Arab Times
21 hours ago
- Arab Times
Al-Hilal land former Inter boss Inzaghi as new manager
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 5, (AP): Simone Inzaghi took over as head coach of Al-Hilal on Wednesday, a day after leaving Inter Milan and two weeks before the Saudi Arabian club's first game at the Club World Cup. Inzaghi signed a two-year deal after Al-Hilal lured him with an offer of reportedly more than 20 million euros ($23 million) per season. "The Italian genius is here,' the Saudi club said in a social media post. Inter was routed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final last Saturday, marking the most lopsided defeat in the 70-year history of major European finals. The 49-year-old Inzaghi coached Inter to the Serie A title last year and was also in charge when the Nerazzurri lost the 2023 Champions League title to Manchester City. He was at Inter for four years.
