Latest news with #AronKristjansson
Arab Times
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait handball team eyes Arab Cup glory under new coach Kristjansson
KUWAIT CITY, April 24: The Kuwaiti national handball team began its training sessions in preparation for the 10th Arab Cup for Men's National Teams with 22 out of 23 players reporting to the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Complex the day before yesterday. The tournament, hosted by Kuwait, will be held from May 4 to 12 and coincides with the International Handball Federation Week. Notably absent from the session was national team star Saif Al-Adwani, who has joined Qatar's Al-Arabi Club for the remainder of their league season from May 23 to 28. He is joined in Qatar by Kazma's Tunisian professional, Mohammed Farad. The training session was overseen by newly appointed Icelandic head coach Aron Kristjansson. Before the workout, Kristjansson addressed the players in the presence of Handball Federation Treasurer Khaled Taleb, National Teams Director Faisal Saywan, and Team Administrator Abdulaziz Al-Zaabi. Coach Kristjansson's preliminary squad features: Goalkeepers: Hassan Safar, Abdulaziz Al-Dhafiri Wings and Backs: Mohammed Bou Yabes, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, Haidar Dashti, Fawaz Al-Mishari, Fawaz Mubarak Playmakers and Pivots: Abdullah Al-Khamis, Abdulaziz Salmeen, Saleh Al-Raghib, Hamoud Al-Adwani, Mohammed Al-Hindal, Abdulaziz Dhaif, Abdulrahman Al-Enezi, Mishaal Al-Harbi, Hussein Al-Mutawa, Mohammed Al-Aryan, Ibrahim Dhaif, Youssef Dhaif, Mohammed Ghadanfar, Mohammed Al-Sanea, Abdulrahman Al-Shammari Absent: Saif Al-Adwani (temporarily with Al-Arabi, Qatar). Khaled Taleb, Treasurer of the Handball Federation, expressed optimism about the national team's campaign in the Arab Cup, highlighting strong ambition from both players and coaching staff. 'The coach was fully briefed on the local league and player performance even before his arrival,' Taleb said. 'This tournament is not just a chance to win the title, but also key preparation for upcoming major competitions.' Taleb emphasized that Kuwait aims to deliver a well-organized tournament worthy of its handball legacy, made possible through the backing of the Public Authority for Sports and the tireless efforts of the Handball Federation's board and committees. He added that the Arab Cup will serve as a vital test event ahead of Kuwait's hosting of the Asian Cup in January. Coach Aron Kristjansson voiced his enthusiasm for leading Kuwait's 'Blue Handball Team,' praising the country's history of excellence in Arab, Gulf, and Asian competitions. 'It's an honor to work with such a talented group of players from the local league,' he said. 'With support from the federation and our dedicated staff, we are determined to make a strong impression in the Arab Championship.'
Arab Times
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait announces 23-player squad for the Arab Cup
KUWAIT CITY, April 23: Icelandic head coach Aron Kristjansson, along with his Danish assistant Ansen, has named a 23-player squad for Kuwait's national handball team ahead of the 10th Arab Cup for Men's National Teams, which will be hosted in Kuwait from May 4 to 12. The tournament coincides with the International Handball Federation Week and will feature the participation of nine Arab countries. The selected players are: Hassan Safar, Abdulaziz Al-Dhafiri, Mohammed Bouyabes, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, Haidar Dashti, Fawaz Al-Mishari, Saif Al-Adwani, Fawaz Mubarak, Abdullah Al-Khamis, Abdulaziz Salmeen, Saleh Al-Raghib, Hamoud Al-Adwani, Mohammed Al-Hindal, Abdulaziz Dhaif, Abdulrahman Al-Enezi, Mishaal Al-Harbi, Hussein Al-Mutawa, Mohammed Al-Aryan, Ibrahim Dhaif, Youssef Dhaif, Mohammed Ghadanfar, Mohammed Al-Sanea, and Abdulrahman Al-Shammari. The national team, also known as the "Blue Handball Team," kicked off its training yesterday and will continue preparations through an internal training camp until the tournament begins. Meanwhile, in local handball action, Qadsia Club topped the First Division League standings after a dominant 32-21 win over Al-Sahel in the 14th round, held at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex. In another match, Fahaheel defeated Yarmouk 35-28. First Division Handball League Standings: Qadsia: 26 points Al-Nasr: 22 points Al-Qurain: 20 points Fahaheel: 16 points Khaitan: 14 points Yarmouk: 6 points Al-Tadamon: 5 points Al-Sahel: 0 points Following the latest round of matches, the First Division Handball League will be temporarily suspended to allow the national team to fully focus on preparations for the Arab Cup. By Khaled Al-Enezi Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
Arab Times
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait handball team begins preparations for 10th Arab Cup
KUWAIT CITY, April 22: The Kuwait national handball team will begin its training at 6:00 pm at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex in the Sabah Al-Salem suburb, as part of preparations for the 10th Arab Cup, which Kuwait will host from May 4 to 12, coinciding with International Handball Federation Week. The team is now under the leadership of newly appointed Icelandic head coach Aron Kristjansson, supported by Danish assistant coach Ansen. Kristjansson has finalized a 24-player squad for the upcoming tournament. Kuwait entered an internal training camp at the Radisson Blu Hotel, which will run through the duration of the tournament. The camp includes daily double training sessions—morning and evening—focusing on improving player fitness and refining both offensive and defensive tactics. Additionally, the program will include theoretical sessions to enhance players' tactical understanding. As part of his preparation, Coach Kristjansson has attended several Premier League and First Division matches to evaluate player performance and finalize his squad selection. The Arab Cup draw will take place on April 26, with nine teams set to participate: Kuwait (host), Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Iraq, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The teams will be split into three groups, with matches played in a single round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarterfinals.
Arab Times
18-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait appoints Iceland's Kristjansson as head coach
KUWAIT CITY, March 18, (KUNA): The Kuwait Handball Federation announced on Monday the appointment of Icelandic coach Aron Kristjansson as the new head coach of the national handball team on a one-year contract. Khaled Talib, Treasurer of the Kuwait Handball Federation, told KUNA that after thorough negotiations, he successfully convinced Kristjansson to take on the role. The experienced coach brings extensive knowledge of Gulf handball, having previously led Bahrain's national team. Talib emphasized that the appointment comes at a crucial time, with major tournaments on the horizon, including the Arab Cup in May and the 2026 Asian Cup. Kristjansson will need to quickly familiarize himself with the Kuwaiti squad to ensure the team is well-prepared for the upcoming challenges. Kristjansson, 52, has over two decades of coaching experience in Iceland, Germany, and Denmark, in addition to managing the Icelandic national team from 2012 to 2016. He later took charge of Bahrain in 2018. As a former professional player, he competed from 1990 to 2004, further adding to his rich handball pedigree.
