Latest news with #Al-Qadsiya
Arab Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Arab Times
Veteran Croatian coach Radan returns to lead Al-Jahra for the upcoming season
KUWAIT CITY, June 9: Croatian coach Rodion Gasanin, known as "Radan," has officially returned to Kuwait after signing an agreement with Al-Jahra to take charge of the first football team for the upcoming season. Radan, 61, brings with him over 28 years of coaching experience. His career began in Croatia with clubs Opatija and Orient before he transitioned to the Gulf region. His impressive résumé includes stints with prominent clubs such as Kuwait Club, Al-Qadsiya, Al-Nasr (Kuwait and Saudi Arabia), Hajr, Al-Orouba (Saudi Arabia), Erbil (Iraq), Al-Muharraq SC and Al-Riffa (Bahrain), Al-Mesaimeer (Qatar), Al-Merreikh (Sudan), and Al-Ahli Benghazi (Libya). Radan also had a brief tenure with the Kuwait national team in 2008, which ended after a loss to Syria during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. Throughout his career, Radan has achieved notable success, securing multiple titles across various leagues. He led Al-Qadsiya to victories in the Kuwait Premier League, Amir's Cup, and Super Cup. With Kuwait Club, he captured both the league title and the Crown Prince Cup. His time in Bahrain was also fruitful, winning the league twice, the Crown Prince Cup three times, and the Federation Cup once. Al-Jahra's board of directors has already coordinated with Radan regarding the selection of three foreign players for the new season. This comes following the contract renewal of Tunisian defender Amr Ben Zekri and the signing of Brazilian midfielder Silva, who played for Al-Sulaibikhat last season. Al-Jahra recently earned promotion back to the Zain Premier League after finishing first in the Zain First Division League, and the club now looks to Radan to lead them into a competitive return at the top tier.
Arab Times
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait U-19 team heads to Slovenia for World Championship preparations
KUWAIT CITY, May 31: The Kuwait under-19 handball team will begin a 21-day training camp in Slovenia on July 14 as part of their preparations for the 11th IHF Men's Youth World Championship, scheduled to take place from August 6 to 17 in Cairo, Egypt. The tournament will feature 32 teams divided into eight groups. Kuwait has been drawn into Group A alongside Sweden, Portugal, and Austria. Faisal Saywan, Director of National Handball Teams, confirmed the team's preparation schedule, stating: "The youth team will begin local training at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex in early July, followed by the overseas camp in Europe." Meanwhile, Al-Qadsiya and Al-Nasr have officially secured promotion to the 2025–2026 Premier Handball League. Al-Qadsiya clinched the First Division League title this season, while Al-Nasr finished as runner-up. According to league regulations, the top two teams from the First Division are promoted to the Premier League, which will feature eight teams next season. Next season's First Division is expected to include six or seven clubs, depending on which teams confirm participation. Al-Jahra and Al-Shabab are reportedly considering a return to the league after a three-year hiatus, while Solidarity is rumored to be planning a withdrawal from the General League.
Arab Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Qadsiya begins Amir Cup title defense against Burgan
KUWAIT CITY, May 20: Al-Qadsiya begins its title defense in the Amir Cup against Burgan at 7:10 pm at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium in a rescheduled preliminary round clash. The match was postponed due to Al-Qadsiya's participation in the Gulf Champions League, where the 'Yellows' reached the final but fell short, losing 2-1 to Iraq's Duhok in the second leg after a 1-1 draw in the first. Now, Al-Qadsiya is aiming to bounce back with a strong start in the Amir Cup following a season marked by domestic setbacks. The team was knocked out of the Zain Premier League title race—having not lifted the league trophy in nine seasons—and exited the Crown Prince Cup semifinals after a narrow loss to Al-Arabi. Additionally, it suffered a heartbreaking Super Cup final defeat to Kuwait Club, losing 7-6 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Despite finishing third in both the Crown Prince Cup and the league, the team's inconsistency, capped by a heavy 7-3 defeat to Al-Fahaheel in the league's final round, has raised questions about the coaching staff led by Montenegrin coach Zeljko Petrovic, whose contract ends in May. Petrovic has stated he will remain with the team only if they reach the Amir Cup final, scheduled for June 16. The quarterfinals will take place on Sunday, with the semifinals on May 29. Adding to the uncertainty, goalkeeper Khaled Al-Rashidi is reportedly set to join Kuwait Club, while fellow player Ali Jarrah is close to a move to Kazma next season. Despite being the favorite on paper, Petrovic warned against complacency, acknowledging that cup competitions often deliver surprises. He called for full focus and effort from his squad as they look to retain the country's most prestigious football title. Meanwhile, Burgan enters the match with hopes of pulling off an upset. After missing out on Premier League qualification—finishing fourth in the Zain First Division League—the team will be looking to prove itself in the Amir Cup with a bold performance.
Arab Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Ashour claims refereeing injustice cost Al-Arabi Zain the Premier League title
KUWAIT CITY, May 14: Al-Arabi Club President Abdulaziz Ashour expressed strong dissatisfaction with the refereeing decisions during the current Zain Premier League season, claiming that officiating errors played a key role in denying his team the league title. Ashour specifically pointed to controversial incidents in several matches, saying, 'In our first-leg match against Kuwait Club, the referee sent off our Mauritanian professional Abdullah Mahmoud after we were awarded a foul. Ironically, Abdullah was the one fouled, yet he received the red card.' He continued, 'There was another case where a Kuwait Club player who had already received a yellow card committed another offense that warranted a second yellow—and consequently a red card. However, the referee instead chose to show a yellow card to Hussein Ashkanani to avoid sending off the Kuwait Club player.' Ashour also criticized Mexican referee Ramos, who officiated its game against Al-Qadsiya. Ramos issued multiple yellow cards, eventually making it easy to send off Hassan Hamdan. He also refereed our decisive game against Kuwait Club and distributed yellow cards to several players. During halftime, players told me he was handing out cards excessively. We also had a clear penalty shout for Jumaa Aboud that went ignored.' He added, 'Even earlier in the match, we were denied another penalty, and the referee failed to consult VAR. It's clear to me now that this referee knew exactly what he was doing. I'm convinced we were robbed of the match.' Ashour held the Kuwait Football Association accountable for what he described as a "refereeing injustice" and expressed hope that the federation would not impose harsh penalties on Al-Arabi in light of the post-match events.
Arab Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Qadsiya pins West Asia Super League hopes on Tabiat
KUWAIT CITY, May 14: Al-Qadsiya's basketball team is closely watching the outcome of tonight's crucial Group B clash between Iran's Tabiat and Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai in the West Asia Super League (WASL) Final Eight, taking place at Nouhad Noufal Sports Complex in Beirut, Lebanon. A win for Tabiat would secure Al-Qadsiya a spot in the semifinals as the group's runner-up behind the Iranian side. However, if Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai prevails, all three teams will be tied on points, reigniting qualification scenarios due to Al-Qadsiya's earlier defeat to Tabiat. If Al-Qadsiya advances as Group B's second-placed team, they will face the winner of Group A, which includes Lebanese giants Al-Riyadi, who have already booked their place in the semifinals with two wins, alongside Al-Hikma (Lebanon), Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia), and Astana (Uzbekistan). The championship, which features seven of Asia's top clubs, concludes on May 18. The top two teams from each group progress to the semifinals, with the finalists earning qualification for the FIBA Asia Champions League (ACL). In its final group-stage match, Al-Qadsiya put on a dominant display, led by captain Abdulaziz Al-Humaidi, who starred with 26 points—17 of them from beyond the arc. Cedric Henry added 17 points, while teammates Abdullah Tawfiq and Saleh Al-Youssef chipped in with 8 points each. Head coach Javier Munoz expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, stating: 'I'm pleased with the win and how the players executed their roles. Now, we wait for the result of Tabiat vs. Shabab Al-Ahli. I hope we move forward and continue this journey.'
