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Arab Times
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait Club clinches 58th Premier Handball League title, Burgan secures historic second
KUWAIT CITY, May 29: The Kuwait Club handball team secured the title of the 58th Premier Handball League after a commanding 39-28 victory over Sulaibikhat in the first round of the league's third and final stage. This triumph marked the club's 15th overall league title and 13th consecutive championship, sealing the title with four rounds remaining and bringing their total to 48 points. Meanwhile, Burgan made history by finishing second in the league for the first time, following a 32-28 win over Al-Salmiya. With 39 points, Burgan stands eight points clear of third-place Kazma. Even if Kazma wins its remaining four matches and Burgan loses all of theirs, both would be tied on points, but Burgan would maintain the edge based on head-to-head performance. The battle for third place continues, with Kazma (31 points) and Al-Salmiya (23 points) contending for the podium. Reacting to the historic achievement, Burgan Sports Club Chairman Anwar Al-Otaibi praised the club's progress, saying: 'This milestone didn't happen overnight. It is the result of the tremendous support from the club's board of directors, combined with the efforts of our technical, administrative, and medical staff, as well as the commitment of our players.' Al-Otaibi also confirmed that Burgan will participate in the Asian Club Championship this November, marking the team's first continental appearance. He expressed optimism, noting that the team will compete with four Asian professionals and is aiming for a strong showing.
Arab Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait Club closes in on league title
KUWAIT CITY, May 24: Kuwait Club is eyeing a critical victory today in its quest to secure the Premier Handball League title as it faces Burgan SC at 6:00 pm in the fifth and final round of the Second Division of the league at Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex and follows an earlier clash between Al-Arabi and Sulaibikhat at 4:30 pm, with Kazma and Salmiya squaring off at 7:00 pm. Currently, Kuwait Club leads the standings with 44 points, followed by Burgan with 37 points. Kazma holds third place with 28, while Salmiya (23), Sulaibikhat (20), and Al-Arabi (18) trail behind. With only Kuwait Club and Burgan left in the title race, today's showdown is pivotal. Kuwait Club, which has dominated the league for the past 12 consecutive seasons, is just two wins away from clinching another championship. A victory today would leave them needing only one win in the upcoming third-division stage, which begins next Wednesday—a task well within reach considering the team's strong form and depth. On the other side, Burgan is aiming to halt Kuwait Club's momentum and keep its slim title hopes alive. A loss would end its championship dreams, but a second-place finish remains within reach. Securing runner-up status would grant Burgan a historic qualification to the Asian Club Championship for the first time—an achievement that would reflect the dedicated efforts of the club's management, technical team, and players. Meanwhile, Kazma and Salmiya are battling for third place, as Al-Arabi is out of contention and Sulaibikhat's hopes of staying in the third division are fading.
Associated Press
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Asian Champions League winners
1967 Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel 1969 Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel 1970 Taj Tehran, Iran 1971 Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel 1972 Cancelled 1986(Jan) Daewoo Royals, South Korea 1986(Dec) Furukawa Electric, Japan 1987 Yomiuri, Japan 1989 Al-Sadd, Qatar 1990 Liaoning, China 1991(Jul) Esteghlal, Iran 1991(Dec) Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia 1993 PAS Tehran, Iran 1994 Thai Farmers Bank, Thailand 1995(Jan) Thai Farmers Bank, Thailand 1995(Dec) Ilhwa Chunma, South Korea 1997 Pohang Steelers, South Korea 1998 Pohang Steelers, South Korea 1999 Jubilo Iwata, Japan 2000 Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia 2001 Suwon Samsung Bluewings, South Korea 2002 Suwon Samsung Bluewings, South Korea 2003 Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates 2004 Al-Ittihad, Saudi Arabia 2005 Al-Ittihad, Saudi Arabia 2006 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, South Korea 2007 Urawa Red Diamonds, Japan 2008 Gamba Osaka, Japan 2009 Pohang Steelers, South Korea 2010 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, South Korea 2011 Al-Sadd, Qatar 2012 Ulsan Hyundai, South Korea 2013 Guangzhou Evergrande, China 2014 Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia 2015 Guangzhou Evergrande, China 2016 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, South Korea 2017 Urawa Red Diamonds, Japan 2018 Kashima Antlers, Japan 2019 Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia 2020 Ulsan Hyundai, South Korea 2021 Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia 2023 Urawa Red Diamonds, Japan 2024 Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates 2025 Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia Note: Asian Club Championship to 2002
Al Arabiya
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
As Ahli faces ACL Elite destiny, how did Saudi clubs fare in AFC Champions League finals?
When Al Ahli takes to the field in the AFC Champions League Elite final against Japan's Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday, it will be the 17th time a club from Saudi Arabia has made it to the final of Asia's biggest club competition. Al Ahli was the first club from the Kingdom to reach a final, back in 1986 when the competition was still called the Asian Club Championship. It lost to Daewoo Royals and was defeated by South Korean opposition again in 2012; now it is aiming to make it third-time lucky. For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Saudi Arabian clubs have a rich history in the AFC Champions League - one that has been shaped by unforgettable nights and painful near-misses. Here, Al Arabiya English looks back at every AFC Champions League final that has featured a Saudi team. 1985–86 - Al Ahli 1-3 Daewoo Royals (South Korea) Al Ahli made history by becoming the first Saudi club to reach the final of Asia's top club competition, then known as the Asian Club Championship. The tournament's final round was held in Jeddah, and Al Ahli topped their group with wins over East Bengal and Krama Yudha. They edged Syria's Al-Ittihad Aleppo 1–0 in the semifinal before facing Daewoo Royals in the final. Amin Dabo gave the hosts an early lead, but the Koreans equalized and then pulled away in extra time to win 3–1. Despite the defeat, it was a landmark campaign for Saudi football. 1986 – Al Hilal runner-up in round-robin final stage There was no single final in the 1986 edition - instead, the tournament was decided through a round-robin format hosted in Riyadh. Al Hilal won two of its three matches but lost 4–3 to Japan's Furukawa Electric, which won the title by finishing top of the group. Al Hilal finished as runner-up on its first of nine forays into Asian finals. A year later, it would fall short again in a final that was never played; Yomiuri FC was crowned champion after Al Hilal was unable to field a side because nine of its players had joined up with the Saudi Arabia national team. 1991 – Al Hilal 1-1 Esteghlal (Iran) On its third attempt, Al Hilal finally won its first Asian Club Championship title in 1991, beating Iran's Esteghlal on penalties in the final in Doha. Amir Hashemi-Moghaddam gave Esteghlal a second-half lead but Husain Al-Habashi leveled for Al Hilal, which then won the resulting shootout 3-2. 1993 - Al Shabab 0-1 PAS Tehran (Iran) A year later and the roles were reversed as Saudi Arabia's representative in the final was beaten by Iran's. Having narrowly progressed through the semifinal, Al Shabab - making its maiden appearance in the final - suffered a 1-0 defeat to PAS Tehran in Riffa, Bahrain. It was the first and only time Al Shabab's reached the final, though the club did win the now defunct Asian Cup WInners' Cup in 2001. PAS Tehran, meanwhile, only played once more in the tournament before the club was eventually dissolved in 2007. 1995 - Al Nassr 0-1 Ilhwa Chunma (South Korea) With the finals played in Riyadh, it appeared Al Nassr was set for a fairytale triumph at the King Fahd Stadium. It had advanced from its semifinal thanks to Khalid Al Farhan's 99th-minute golden goal against Thai Farmers Bank, but was undone by the same method of victory in the final. The showdown with South Korea's Ilhwa Chunma finished 0-0 after normal time and looked to be heading to penalties, until Lee Tae-Hong struck a 110th-minute winner. It remains Al Nassr's only appearance in the final to date. 2000 - Al Hilal 3-2 Júbilo Iwata (Japan) Nine years after its first taste of continental glory, Al Hilal claimed its second Asian Club Championship crown, completing a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Japanese outfit Jubilo Iwata. Brazilian striker Sergio Ricardo, who also netted the winner against Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the semifinal, was Al Hilal's hero as he bagged a hat-trick in the final. Ricardo netted an 89th-minute equalizer before his 102nd-minute golden goal handed Al Hilal a dramatic victory. 2004 – Al Ittihad 6-3 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (South Korea) Al Ittihad delivered arguably the most sensational comeback in AFC Champions League history to lift its first title in 2004. After losing the first leg 3-1 at home, few gave them a chance in the return leg in South Korea. But in Seongnam, Al Ittihad stunned the hosts with a 5-0 thrashing. A brace from Mohammed Noor, who starred across both legs, plus strikes from Redha Tukar, Manaf Abushgeer and Hamza Idris sealed an improbable 6-3 aggregate win. It was the club's first title under the new format - which changed from Asian Club Championship to AFC Champions League in 2002 - and marked a new dawn of Saudi dominance in the revamped competition. 2005 – Al Ittihad 5-3 Al Ain (UAE) The reigning champion returned one year later to become the first - and still, only - team to win back-to-back AFC Champions League titles. Al Ittihad earned a 1-1 draw away in the first leg thanks to a goal from Mohammed Kallon and in the second leg at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Kallon netted again as Al Ain was overwhelmed 4-2. Mohammed Noor also scored in the final for a second successive year and was named tournament MVP. 2009 - Al Ittihad 1-2 Pohang Steelers In the one-off final, played at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Al Ittihad had the opportunity to win a third AFC Champions League title and become the most successful Saudi side in the history of the competition. Mohammed Noor scored in his third final for Al Ittihad but a pair of second-half goals from No Byung-jun and Kim Hyung-il gave Pohang Steelers a 2-1 win that gave the Korean side its third continental title. 2012 – Al Ahli 0-3 Ulsan Hyundai (Korea Republic) Al Ahli reached the final for the second time in its history after a memorable campaign but fell short at the final hurdle. Having beaten fellow Saudi side Al Ittihad in the semifinal, Al Ahli traveled to Korea for the one-off final but the Jeddah side were outclassed by a powerful Ulsan Hyundai team, losing 3-0. Goals from Kwak Tae-Hwi, Rafinha, and Kim Seung-Yong left no room for a response. 2014 – Al Hilal 0-1 Western Sydney Wanderers (Australia) Al Hilal's return to the final after a 14-year wait ended in controversy and heartbreak. Western Sydney Wanderers pulled off a shock 1-0 win in the first leg in Australia, with substitute Tomi Juric scoring the only goal. In the second leg - in front of 64,000 fans at King Fahd Stadium - Al Hilal dominated possession but was repeatedly denied by goalkeeper Ante Covic and a series of contentious refereeing decisions, including two strong penalty claims. Despite relentless pressure, the Riyadh giants couldn't break through, with Western Sydney becoming the first Australian team to lift the title. 2017 – Al Hilal 1-2 Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) A second final defeat in three years for Al Hilal was a bitter pill for coach Ramón Díaz and his players to swallow. The final against Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds began brightly for Al Hilal, with Omar Khribin cancelling out Rafael Silva's opener to earn a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Riyadh. But an injury to Khribin in the second leg hampered Al Hilal's attacking threat, and Urawa capitalized with a late goal from Silva to secure a 2-1 aggregate win. 2019 – Al Hilal 3-0 Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) Redemption finally arrived for Al Hilal two years later as it produced a dominant display across both legs to win the rematch of the 2017 final. Under the guidance of Romanian coach Răzvan Lucescu, Al Hilal won the first leg in Riyadh 1-0 thanks to Andre Carrillo's powerful header. Then, in the return match in Saitama, Salem Al-Dawsari put Al Hilal ahead before Bafétimbi Gomis - the tournament's top scorer - sealed a 3-0 aggregate win. It drew Al Hilal level with Pohang Steelers on three Asian titles. 2021 – Al Hilal 2-0 Pohang Steelers (South Korea) This final was a clash between the two most successful clubs in Asian history at the time, both seeking a record fourth title. Al Hilal struck early with a screamer from Nasser Al Dawsari, who scored the fastest goal in final history - just 16 seconds in. Moussa Marega added a second in the second half to secure a 2-0 win at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. With the victory, Al Hilal became the most decorated club in AFC Champions League history, a landmark moment for Saudi football. 2022 – Al Hilal vs Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) In their third final in seven years, Al Hilal once again faced Urawa Red Diamonds, but the trilogy ended in frustration. Salem Al-Dawsari gave the Saudis the lead in Riyadh, but Urawa equalized through Shinzo Koroki. The second leg in Japan was tight, but an own goal from Al Hilal midfielder André Carrillo handed Urawa a 2-1 aggregate win. It was another painful defeat - particularly for coach Ramon Diaz, who had also lost to Urawa in the 2017 final.
Sharjah 24
11-03-2025
- Sport
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah Club appoints Sofiane Hayouani as handball team coach
Previous tenure Coach Soufiane Hiaouani previously led the team from 2015 to 2023 across three phases, during which he contributed to achieving numerous local titles and international accomplishments. Titles and medals Under coach Soufiane Hiaouani, the team won the UAE-Bahrain Super Cup and two bronze medals at the Asian Club Championship held in Kuwait and South Korea in 2019.
