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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
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Ibrahim lauds Al-Qadsiya's resilience despite defeat in the Gulf Champions League final
KUWAIT CITY, April 16: Former Al-Qadsiya and national team coach Mohammed Ibrahim, known as 'The General,' has commended Zeljko Petrovic for his successful tenure with the team, emphasizing the positive impact the Montenegrin coach has had on the squad this season. Ibrahim highlighted the Al-Qadsiya board of directors' strong support for the team, along with the technical and administrative staff's efforts in maintaining high player focus, especially with the added strain of frequent travels for the Gulf Champions League alongside local tournament commitments. Reflecting on the team's challenges before the Gulf Champions League final, Ibrahim noted the difficult circumstances Al-Qadsiya faced. The team was without Hussein Dhahiri due to suspension, Moaz Al-Dhafiri was injured the day before the match, and the loss of Khaled Ibrahim, who was forced off injured in the first half, was another setback. Despite these challenges, Ibrahim praised the technical staff's management of the match and their decision to include young talents like Khaled Sabah, Faisal Al-Shatti, Jassim Al-Matar, and Abdullah Mutawa. Ibrahim congratulated the Qadisiya players, the board of directors, and the administrative and technical staff, led by Sheikh Fahad Talal, for their outstanding performance in the Gulf Championship despite the obstacles they faced. Following their return from Iraq, Al-Qadsiya resumed training today in preparation for their upcoming match against Al-Tadamon on Sunday in the second round of the tournament's group stage. In the final, Al-Qadsiya suffered a 2-1 loss to Iraqi club Duhok in the second leg of the Gulf Champions League the day before yesterday. In post-match comments, Petrovic criticized the referee's decisions, stating, 'It's difficult to win under these conditions. The referee didn't award many free kicks to my team, but he was quick to give them to the home side.' The emotional coach was seen tearing up after Omani referee Qassim Al-Hatmi blew the final whistle. Meanwhile, Mohammed Soula, Al-Qadsiya's Libyan professional, pointed to a lack of concentration in the final moments of the match as the key reason for the team's defeat.
Arab Times
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kazma and Al-Nasr face tough tests in Amir Cup preliminary rounds
KUWAIT CITY, April 9: The 63rd edition of the prestigious Amir Cup tournament kicks off today with two exciting preliminary round matches. Kazma will face Al-Jahra at 5:20 pm at Abdullah Al-Khalifa Stadium, while Al-Nasr will go head-to-head with Al-Yarmouk at 8:30 pm at Al-Sadaka and Al-Salam Stadium. Action in the preliminary round continues tomorrow as Khaitan plays Al-Shabab, and Al-Salmiya takes on Al-Sahel. The round concludes the day after with Al-Fahaheel facing Al-Tadamon and powerhouse Kuwait Club meeting Al-Jazeera. Due to Al-Qadsia's qualification for the Gulf Champions League final, the Kuwait Football Federation has postponed its match against Burgan to May 10. Additionally, the fixture between Al-Arabi and Al-Sulaibikhat has been postponed due to Al-Arabi's participation in the AFC Challenge Cup. Seven clubs have previously lifted the Amir Cup. Al-Qadsia leads with 17 titles, followed closely by Al-Arabi and Kuwait Club with 16 each. Kazma has won the trophy eight times, while Salmiya and Yarmouk have two titles apiece. Fahaheel has won once. In today's opener, Kazma aims to redeem itself after a disappointing Zain Premier League season that saw the club relegated to the Relegation League for a second consecutive year. The team hopes to replicate its recent Crown Prince Cup quarterfinal appearance. Al-Jahra enters the match in high spirits, topping the Zain First Division League and having recently qualified for the Crown Prince Cup quarterfinals with a win over Al-Jazeera. The team also seeks to avenge a 7-3 loss to Kazma in their last meeting in the Relegation League. In the evening clash, Al-Nasr and Al-Yarmouk renewed their rivalry after meeting twice in the league this season. The first encounter ended in a 2-2 draw, while Al-Nasr dominated the second with a 4-0 win. They are also set to meet again in the Relegation League on May 5. Despite its recent head-to-head advantage, Al-Nasr is aiming to bounce back after a Crown Prince Cup exit. Meanwhile, Yarmouk, currently bottom of the league, is seeking a turnaround in cup competition, hoping to deliver a surprise despite its ongoing struggles.
Arab Times
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Qadsiya eyes redemption in Gulf Champions League final
KUWAIT CITY, April 7: Qadsiya will look to bounce back from their early exit in the Zain Premier League title race by securing a strong result in the first leg of the Gulf Champions League final against Iraq's Duhok, scheduled for 7:45 pm tonight at Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium. The "Yellow Castle" fans are eager to see their team take a crucial step toward lifting its third Gulf title, having previously won the championship in 2000 and 2005. The players, too, are determined to deliver a memorable result to compensate for their domestic disappointment. Qadsiya reached the final by finishing second in Group B with nine points, earning two wins, three draws, and a loss. In the semifinals, it edged past the UAE's Al-Nasr 1-0 in the first leg and lost 2-1 in the return leg before clinching a 4-3 win on penalties. In preparation for the final, Montenegrin head coach Zeljko Petrovic opted to rest key starters in last Friday's league clash against Al-Salmiya. The squad then entered a focused training camp ahead of tonight's crucial encounter. Despite missing Moroccan midfielders Mehdi Berrahma and Moaz Al-Dhafiri due to suspension from accumulated yellow cards, Qadsiya is expected to benefit from the return of several players. Khaled Ibrahim, Ismail Khafi, Abdulaziz Wadi, Abdullah Mutawa, and Adhbi Shehab, all of whom missed recent fixtures, are likely to feature. Meanwhile, Duhok is aiming to continue its impressive run in the tournament as it chases its first-ever Gulf Champions League title. The Iraqi side advanced to the final after finishing second in Group A with nine points, behind UAE's Al-Nasr. In the semifinals, Duhok stunned Saudi Arabia's Al-Ettifaq with back-to-back 1-0 victories. Domestically, Duhok has been in strong form, most recently defeating league leader Al-Zawraa in the Iraqi Premier League. Although currently in seventh place, it remains in contention with five games in hand and only 12 points separating them from the top. Showing its intent, Duhok arrived in Kuwait on a private jet with a 70-member delegation, including seven media representatives. To avoid scheduling conflicts, it held its training sessions at Sabah Al-Salem Stadium rather than Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium. The match will be officiated by a Saudi crew led by referee Majed Al-Shamrani, with assistants Hisham Al-Rifai and Omar Al-Jamal. Shukri Al-Hanfoush will serve as the fourth official. Emirati officials Saqr Al-Zaabi and Yasser Al-Marshadi will operate the VAR system.
Arab Times
05-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Qadsiya eyes third Gulf Champions League title
KUWAIT CITY, Al-Qadsiya has launched an internal training camp in preparation for its highly anticipated clash against Iraq's Duhok in the first leg of the Gulf Champions League final scheduled for Tuesday. The Yellows have momentarily shifted focus away from the Zain Premier League, following a 4-2 defeat to Al-Salmiya in the first round of the league's group stage. Despite the setback, Al-Qadsiya remains in third place with 35 points, while Al-Salmiya closed the gap to just three points in fourth. Al-Qadsiya will be without Moroccan midfielder Mehdi Barahma and Moaz Al-Dhafiri due to yellow card accumulations. However, the squad received a boost with the return of several players to training — Khaled Ibrahim, Ismail Khafi, Abdulaziz Wadi, Abdullah Mutawa, and Adhbi Shehab — who had missed the previous match due to injuries. Although most of the recovering players are now fit, head coach Zeljko Petrović opted to rest them against Al-Salmiya to ensure peak performance for the Gulf final. In their absence, Petrović gave opportunities to several up-and-coming players, including Ahmed Boudi, who marked his first senior team appearance with a debut goal. Also featuring were Faisal Al-Shatti, Abdulrahman Al-Dhafiri, Khaled Sabah, Mishaal Khaled, and Ahmed Shabib — a sign of depth and development within the squad. With Al-Qadsiya trailing league leader Kuwait Club by 12 points with five matches remaining, Petrović has prioritized preparation for the Gulf final over domestic competition. Al-Qadsiya began selling tickets for the crucial encounter against Duhok via several platforms and the club's official app. The club is counting on strong fan support as it eyes a third Gulf title — having previously won the tournament in 2000 and 2005. The Gulf Champions League has returned to prominence this year after a nine-year hiatus. Duhok's team touched down in Kuwait a day before yesterday and quickly got to work, beginning training sessions. Al-Qadsiya's Secretary, Hassan Abu Al-Hassan, along with members of the club's public relations team, warmly welcomed the Iraqi delegation and presented flowers to the visiting players. As both teams finalize preparations, anticipation builds for what promises to be a thrilling first leg in the Gulf Champions League final.
