Latest news with #FirasAl-Khatib
Arab Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Arabi battles Al-Sulaibikhat as Amir Cup preliminary round concludes
KUWAIT CITY, May 22: The preliminary round of the Amir Cup concludes this evening with a rescheduled encounter between Al-Arabi and Al-Sulaibikhat, set to kick off at 7:10 pm at Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium. Originally slated for last April, the match was postponed due to Al-Arabi's involvement in the AFC Challenge League semi-finals. Tonight's match holds critical importance for Al-Arabi, who aim to turn the page on a difficult stretch that saw it miss out on two major titles within just eight days. It lost its chance at the Zain Premier League crown after a 2-1 defeat to Kuwait Club in the decisive round on May 11, followed by a narrow loss in the Crown Prince Cup final to Al-Abyad on Monday. The "Green" side enters the match not just seeking victory, but a fresh start. The team hopes to restore confidence, regain momentum, and launch a serious campaign in Kuwait's most prestigious knockout competition, now its last remaining opportunity for silverware this season. On the other side, Al-Sulaibikhat will be hoping to cause an upset and capitalize on Al-Arabi's recent misfortunes. However, its task is formidable. Al-Sulaibikhat recently missed out on promotion to the Zain Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Jahra in the final round of the Zain First Division League. It needed a win to secure promotion, but the result left it in third place, with Al-Shabab advancing instead. In another rescheduled fixture, Al-Qadsia secured a hard-fought 3-2 win over Burgan, booking a spot in the Amir Cup quarterfinals where it will face Al-Fahaheel this Sunday. Under the watchful eye of Syrian coach Firas Al-Khatib, the 'Yellows' looked in full control after racing to a 3-0 lead, courtesy of goals from Khaled Sabah (19'), Bader Al-Mutawa (22'), and Ismail Khafi (61'). But Burqan mounted a fierce comeback, with Hamoud Al-Sahli scoring twice (63' and 77') to narrow the gap and apply late pressure. Al-Qadsia nearly paid the price for its defensive complacency, but held on until the final whistle to seal the win. A moment of concern for Al-Qadsia came early in the match when defender Khaled Ibrahim collided with Burgan's Isaac James. Ibrahim was taken to the hospital, underwent medical tests, and has since been cleared to play in Sunday's quarterfinal.
Arab Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait Club and Al-Arabi finalize preparations for Zain Premier League title decider
KUWAIT CITY, May 8: Kuwait Club and Al-Arabi will wrap up their preparations for the decisive clash scheduled for Sunday in the fifth and final round of the Zain Premier League championship group. Both sides are vying for the coveted league title. Kuwait Club currently leads the standings with 57 points and requires just one point to be crowned champion for the fourth consecutive year and the 20th time in its history. Meanwhile, Al-Arabi, sitting on 55 points, must secure a win to claim the title for the 18th time in club history. The two sides have faced off twice this season in the league — Kuwait Club won the first encounter 2-0, while the second ended in a goalless draw. The fourth round wrapped up with a single match between Salmiya and Fahaheel at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium, ending in a 1-1 draw. Salmiya now holds fourth place with 32 points, just ahead of Fahaheel, which sits fifth with 31 points. In Sunday's final round, Salmiya will face Al-Tadamon (6th place, 20 points), while Fahaheel will go up against Al-Qadsiya, who have locked in third place with 38 points. Fahaheel's Syrian coach, Firas Al-Khatib, expressed disappointment over missed chances, stating, 'The waste of easy opportunities continues.' He commended his players for their determination and strong desire to clinch fourth place, emphasizing that the team still has a real chance to achieve that goal. Al-Khatib also praised Salmiya goalkeeper Yousef Al-Kandari for his exceptional performance. Tomorrow also marks the final round of the relegation group, with Khaitan and Yarmouk set to bid farewell to the Zain Premier League. The two sides will face off at 7:10 PM at Al-Sadalaqa and Al-Salam Stadiums. Meanwhile, Kazma (20 points) and Al-Nasr (18 points), both of whom have already secured their place in next season's Premier League, will clash at Abdullah Al-Khalifa Stadium.
Arab Times
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Khatib close to renewing contract with Al-Fahaheel
KUWAIT CITY, April 6: Al-Fahaheel's Syrian head coach, Firas Al-Khatib, is nearing a contract renewal for his fourth season with the club, as both parties have agreed on most of the terms. Following his team's 1-1 draw with Al-Arabi in the opening round of the Zain Premier League championship group, Al-Khatib expressed that he is "close to staying with Al-Fahaheel next season" and aims to perform at his best to lead the team to the podium. Al-Khatib also emphasized that he and his team have "one goal this season: to secure a spot in next season's international tournaments." The Syrian coach stressed that Al-Fahaheel is taking each match seriously as they work to improve their position in the standings. He added, "We aspire to advance in the standings, not for the benefit of any other team," highlighting that Al-Fahaheel will treat the remaining league matches as if they were cup matches.
