Latest news with #Al-Shatti
Arab Times
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Salmiya signs Nasser Al-Shatti as head coach for the season
KUWAIT CITY, July 12: Al-Salmiya Club officially announced the signing of coach Nasser Al-Shatti and his brother, Maitham Al-Shatti, to lead the first football team in preparation for the upcoming 2025-2026 season. The agreement was finalized the day before yesterday following months of negotiations that began earlier this year. Al-Shatti had previously led Al-Arabi to an impressive season, finishing as runner-up in the Zain Premier League and the Crown Prince Cup, and reaching the final of the Amir's Cup, which was postponed last June due to regional circumstances. The team also reached the AFC Challenge Cup semifinals. Despite Al-Arabi's desire to renew his contract for a third season, both sides were unable to reach a final agreement. As a result, Al-Salmiya parted ways with Croatian coach Ante Miša, who had been under contract through the end of next season. The club expressed its gratitude to Miša and wished him success in future endeavors. With the appointment of the Al-Shatti brothers, Al-Salmiya aims to return to title contention and secure local championships after a prolonged absence from the podium. In addition to the coaching change, Al-Salmiya has reinforced its squad by signing Abdullah Al-Shamali, who recently ended his stint with Al-Qadsiya. Al-Shamali began his career at Al-Arabi and spent the last two seasons at Al-Qadsiya. Meanwhile, Al-Arabi has announced the appointment of Jordanian coach Ahmed Hayel as assistant coach, joining the technical staff led by Portuguese head coach Marco Cesar Pereira Alves, whose hiring was confirmed last week. Hayel will work alongside Portuguese coach Alonso, who was recently added to the staff, marking his first coaching role outside Jordan. A former Al-Arabi player, Hayel's career was cut short by a head injury nearly a decade ago. He brings a strong coaching résumé, having guided the Jordan U-23 Olympic team to the 2021 West Asian Championship title and qualification for the AFC Asian Cup finals. He also served as assistant coach for Jordan's senior national team and led Al-Faisaly and Al-Hussein Irbid, winning the Jordanian Professional League title last season. Al-Arabi's technical staff also includes: Tunisian Khalil Jebabli as fitness coach (continuing in his role) Portuguese Blessing Lumiono and Ahmed Hayel as assistant coaches Brazilian Artur Guedes as goalkeeper coach Algerian Mahfouz Jenad as a technical analyst
Arab Times
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Arabi part ways with Al-Shatti after 2 seasons, Al-Salmiya move imminent
KUWAIT CITY, June 28: Al-Arabi has officially announced the departure of national coach Nasser Al-Shatti and his entire coaching staff, including Maitham Al-Shatti, Saleh Mahdi, and Ali Boland. The decision comes after two seasons of collaboration, with recent negotiations over a contract extension reaching a deadlock. Despite holding several meetings over the past 10 days, the two sides failed to agree on key terms for a renewed deal. Under Al-Shatti's leadership—alongside his brother and assistant Maitham—Al-Arabi had a strong season, finishing second in both the Zain Premier League and the Crown Prince Cup. The team also reached the final of the Emir's Cup, which has been postponed due to the current situation. However, no titles were secured during his tenure. Al-Shatti is now a leading candidate to take over at Al-Salmiya for the 2025–2026 season. Sources indicate that the two parties have already agreed on most terms of the proposed contract, with an official announcement expected soon. This potential move comes as Al-Salmiya looks to end its contract with Croatian coach Ante Miša, who remains under contract until the end of next season. The club is reportedly seeking a mutual termination. Meanwhile, at Al-Qadsiya, efforts to reinforce the squad ahead of the 2025–2026 season are in full swing. Head coach Nabil Maaloul is currently reviewing several foreign players being offered by agents, with a strong focus on midfield and attacking reinforcements. Algerian midfielder Ghilas Guenaoui, born in 1998, has emerged as a top target. He previously played for ES Sétif in Algeria and Port Said in Egypt and is known for his versatility and playmaking ability. Guenaoui is the second Algerian player under consideration, alongside defender Ayoub Abdellaoui (32), who has experience with MC Alger, USM Alger, and Saudi Arabia's Al-Ettifaq. Additionally, former Tunisian international striker Haythem Jouini has been offered to the club. Al-Qadsiya is in rebuilding mode after parting ways with three foreign players: Moroccan Ismail Khafi, Nigerian Daniel Jibola, and Algerian Hussein Dahiri. The futures of Libyan winger Mohamed Soula and Moroccan midfielder Mehdi Berrahma—both still under contract—will be decided by Maaloul in the coming weeks. Preparations for the new season have already begun, with the squad set to begin training on the 16th of the month, followed by an overseas training camp. The Zain Premier League campaign kicks off on September 12. In a bid to strengthen its squad for the upcoming First Division season, Yarmouk Club has signed former Al-Salmiya player Othman Al-Dosari. The move comes as the club looks to bounce back after finishing last in the Zain Premier League.
Arab Times
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Arabi in talks to retain Al-Shatti amid interest from Al-Salmiya
KUWAIT CITY, June 18: Al-Arabi Club and head coach Nasser Al-Shatti are still in discussions over his future with the team, following a meeting held that ended without a final decision. Both sides, however, reached a preliminary agreement to continue, contingent on aligning key views. The meeting focused on reviewing the previous season, including challenges related to foreign players, performance gaps, and areas needing improvement. Both Al-Shatti and the club's board agreed that adjustments are necessary to compete more effectively for championships. A follow-up meeting is expected either today or tomorrow to finalize the decision. Under the leadership of Nasser Al-Shatti and his assistant coach—his brother Maitham—Al-Arabi had a strong campaign last season, finishing second in the Zain Premier League and as runner-up in the Crown Prince Cup. The team also reached the final of the Emir's Cup, which has been postponed due to regional circumstances. Meanwhile, Al-Shatti has also been in advanced talks with Al-Salmiya Club. The two parties reportedly agreed on most contractual terms, although no official signing has taken place yet. The coming days are expected to be decisive in determining whether Al-Shatti remains at Al-Arabi or makes a move to Al-Salmiya ahead of the new season.
Kuwait Times
15-06-2025
- General
- Kuwait Times
Guardians of Kuwait's seas: Kuwait Dive Team inspires nationwide culture of marine conservation
Beneath the surface of Kuwait's shoreline, boats, ships, and yachts once lay broken and buried — remnants of a war that scarred both land and sea. In 1991, just after the Iraqi invasion, a group of volunteers dove into the water to begin reviving those sunken vessels. That first mission marked the beginning of the Kuwait Dive Team — a grassroots movement that has spent more than 30 years salvaging over 900 marine objects, removing tons of waste and protecting fragile coral reefs. Today, the team comprises 30 to 50 active members, most in their mid-thirties, united by more than a love for the sea. 'What keeps us going, whether in the cold, the heat, or even in harsh, dusty conditions, is a deep sense of national and environmental duty,' said Waleed Al-Shatti, Vice President of the team. 'This environment isn't ours alone; it belongs to all of humanity. What we do is not just for Kuwait, but for the world.' To carry out their wide-ranging missions, team members undergo rigorous certification through accredited diving programs. Many are trained in specialized techniques such as night diving, current diving and underwater search and recovery. This expertise allows them to respond quickly and effectively — whether rescuing a stranded vessel, conducting semi-weekly sea patrols or clearing marine hazards. While much of their work is closely coordinated with state institutions, the public also plays a key role. Fishermen, divers and boaters frequently report oil spills, abandoned fishing nets, or signs of illegal activity — tip-offs that often prompt rapid interventions. Yet the team's impact goes far beyond emergency response. Education and community engagement are central to their mission. With a marine conservation curriculum now adopted by Kuwait's ministry of education, students are introduced to the importance of environmental stewardship from an early age. National beach cleanup campaigns, run in partnership with the ministries of social affairs and education, have brought together thousands of volunteers - Kuwaitis and expatriates alike, including Indians, Pakistanis, Filipinos and others - fostering a shared sense of environmental responsibility. In addition to awareness efforts, the team leads several proactive environmental projects, focusing primarily on the protection of Kuwait's scarce coral reefs. Al-Shatti emphasized their ecological importance in filtering seawater, producing oxygen, sheltering marine species and acting as natural wave barriers. To monitor reef health, the team partners with Queensland University in Australia. The data they collect - on coral color, water temperature, and reef conditions - is shared with international environmental research databases. Visual storytelling is another powerful tool in their strategy. Through underwater photography, short films and printed educational materials distributed in schools, the team highlights the beauty of Kuwait's marine ecosystem, aiming to inspire a culture of care. On the international stage, the team proudly represents Kuwait at marine conservation exhibitions, sharing expertise and collaborating with environmental organizations around the world. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed: the Kuwait Dive Team has received repeated global recognition, including winning the Global Energy and Earth Prize two years in a row - outperforming more than 400 international competitors. Kuwait Dive Team lifts three tons of waste and debris from coral reefs off the southern island of Qaruh. Kuwait Dive Team successfully removes an abandoned fishing net. Kuwait Dive Team monitoring coral reefs. Kuwait Dive Team lifts nets from Um Deera reef, north of Qaruh Island. Kuwait Dive Team removes abandoned fishing nets in Bnaider. Kuwait Dive Team replaces and installs cables on the island of Kubbar as part of a maintenance project. Kuwait Dive Team rescues a shark entangled in a net.
Arab Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Arabi Coach Nasser Al-Shatti: We're ready to win the Crown Prince Cup
KUWAIT CITY, May 18: Al-Arabi coach Nasser Al-Shatti congratulated Kuwait Club on winning the Zain Premier League title and expressed his strong desire to win the Crown Prince Cup. Speaking at a press conference held yesterday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Al-Shatti said, "I would like to thank the Al-Arabi players for their remarkable performance throughout the league. They competed fiercely from the very first rounds, and we came close to winning the title." He added, "Competing for every title until the end is never easy." He noted that Kuwait Club has maintained a distinguished system over the past 20 years, while Al-Arabi has been following a similar path over the last five years, aiming to crown its efforts with a championship. "I hope to win the Crown Prince Cup," Al-Shatti stated, emphasizing that his main goal is to compete strongly, introduce modern tactics, and help Al-Arabi's young players excel and win titles. "My objective is to win the title to please the fans and compensate for the league loss," he continued, explaining that football is often decided by small details that ultimately cost Al-Arabi the league crown. Al-Arabi player Juma Aboud described the upcoming match as a "big" one with intense competition between the two teams. He added, "Our goal is to win the title by following and executing all of the coach's instructions."
