Latest news with #KuwaitFootballAssociation
Arab Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Crown Prince congratulates Kuwait Club on Cup victory
KUWAIT CITY, May 20, (KUNA): His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent a congratulatory letter on Tuesday to the President of Kuwait Club, Khaled Al-Ghanim, celebrating the club's victory in the Crown Prince Cup. In his letter, His Highness praised the dedication and hard work of everyone at the club, wishing them continued success in their future endeavors. On the same day, His Highness the Crown Prince also sent a letter of appreciation to Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yusuf Al-Sabah, Chairman of the Kuwait Football Association (KFA). The letter expressed gratitude for the KFA's efforts in organizing a well-run championship, which reflected the true spirit of Kuwaiti sports through an atmosphere of sportsmanship and honorable competition. His Highness commended the association's commitment and hoped for even greater achievements in the future. His Highness the Crown Prince sponsored and attended the final Crown Prince Football Cup match. He was warmly welcomed by Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, Chairman of the Kuwait Football Association Sheikh Ahmad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah, Vice President of the Kuwait Olympic Committee Sheikh Mubarak Faisal Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, along with other senior officials. Meanwhile, Al-Mutairi highlighted that the patronage of His Highness the Crown Prince at the final match symbolized his unwavering support and interest in Kuwaiti athletes. Speaking at a press briefing after the final between Al-Arabi and Kuwait Club, Al-Mutairi said the entire sports community felt immense pride and gratitude for this generous sponsorship, which reflects the political leadership's care for young athletes. He emphasized the crucial role of sports development in Kuwait, noting that strengthening the status of athletes contributes significantly to both individual growth and societal progress. Al-Mutairi also acknowledged the Public Authority for Sports' dedication to collaborating with clubs and federations to elevate the level of Kuwaiti sports across all disciplines. He extended congratulations to Kuwait SC for their championship win and to Al-Arabi for securing second place. In a thrilling final, Kuwait Club secured their tenth Crown Prince Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Al-Arabi. The match was tightly contested throughout regular time, with multiple scoring opportunities but no goals during the official 90 minutes. Al-Arabi had a prime chance to take the lead in the 67th minute when awarded a penalty, but Hamza Khabba's attempt was unsuccessful. The game remained intense through extra time, with chances on both sides. It wasn't until the 121st minute that Kuwait Club was awarded a penalty, which Yahya Jabrane converted, securing the winning goal and lifting his team to the top of the championship podium.
Arab Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Arabi and Kuwait Club finalize preparations for Crown Prince Cup final
KUWAIT CITY, May 17: Al-Arabi and Kuwait Club will wrap up their final training sessions this evening as both teams gear up for tomorrow's highly anticipated Crown Prince Cup Final. With the title on the line, the coaching staff of both sides has intensified tactical preparations, aiming to deliver a performance worthy of the occasion. Al-Arabi, in particular, enters the match seeking redemption after losing the Zain Premier League title last week, falling 2-1 to Kuwait Club in the final round of the season. The final comes just days after the Kuwait Football Association's Disciplinary Committee announced a series of penalties following disturbances that erupted during the recent league clash between the two sides. Al-Arabi players Sofiane Bouchar, Emmanuel Iwala, and Hamza Khaba were each suspended for two league matches and fined KWD 1,000. Additionally, Jassim Taqi, a member of the club's fan association, received a three-month stadium ban and was fined KWD 1,000 for offensive behavior on the social platform X, under Article 58 of the Disciplinary Regulations. Another Al-Arabi supporter, Abdulaziz Al-Darbas, was handed a one-year stadium ban and fined KWD 500 after storming the pitch and engaging in an altercation with Kuwait Club players. The club itself was fined KWD 8,000 for repeated infractions by its fans, which included throwing smoke bombs, sound bombs, and chanting offensive slogans. Kuwait Club players Sami Al-Sanea, Ayman Abu Al-Fath, Mohammed Daham, and Ahmed Al-Zanki were each suspended for two league matches and fined KWD 1,000 under Article 60. Amr Abdel-Fattah received a KWD 500 fine for physical altercations with Al-Darbas, while photographer Nasser Bin Nasser was suspended for two matches and fined KWD 500 for his involvement in the incident. A press conference for the Crown Prince Cup Final will be held at noon today at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, featuring the head coach and one player from each team. The session is expected to address the teams' strategies, preparations, and remarks ahead of the cup showdown.
Arab Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Kuwait Football Association delegation attends 75th FIFA Congress in Paraguay
KUWAIT CITY, May 17: A delegation from the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) took part in the 75th FIFA Congress, held on May 15 in Asunción, the capital of Paraguay. The KFA was represented by Osama Hussein, Vice President for Technical Affairs, and Ayman Al-Husseini, a member of the Board of Directors. Osama Hussein actively participated in the official voting process on various resolutions presented during the congress. Meanwhile, Ayman Al-Husseini was selected as one of three observer representatives to oversee the electronic voting process, underscoring FIFA's commitment to transparency and integrity. On the sidelines of the event, the Kuwaiti officials held key meetings with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, as well as several other prominent sports figures. Discussions focused on strategies to advance Kuwaiti football, enhance its regional and international presence, and explore new development opportunities. The Congress agenda covered several important topics, including: The FIFA Annual Report A review of 2024 activities and events The financial statements for the previous year Elections for members of FIFA's Disciplinary, Ethics, Appeals, Governance, Audit, and Compliance Committees The event reaffirmed Kuwait's active role in global football governance and its ongoing efforts to strengthen its position within the international football community.
Arab Times
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Zain celebrates Dawri Zain's standout players
KUWAIT CITY, May 10: Zain presented its incentive awards to the most outstanding players in the local Premier League (Dawri Zain) during a ceremony held at its headquarters in Shuwaikh, where the Best Player of the Round awards were handed to the winners of the recent rounds of the league. The event was held in partnership with the Kuwait Football Association. The awards were presented by Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, President of the Kuwait Football Association, and Waleed Al-Khashti, Chief Corporate Affairs and Relations Officer at Zain Kuwait, in the presence of Dr. Saleh Al-Majroub, Secretary General of the Association; Thamer Enad, Head of the Technical Committee; members of the committee; and Zain officials. Zain awarded the Best Player of the Round prize of KD 500 to each of the following players: Ali Khalaf of Al-Arabi for Round 9, Eid Al-Rashidi of Al-Qadsia for Round 10, Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi of Al-Arabi for Round 11, and Salman Al-Awadhi of Al-Arabi for Round 12. Ahmed Al-Zanki of Al-Kuwait was awarded for Round 13, followed by Mohammed Daham of Al-Kuwait for Round 14, Salman Bouramya of Al-Nasr for Round 15, and Fawaz Mbeleish of Al-Nasr for Round 16. Mubarak Al-Funaini of Al-Qadsia won the award for Round 17, Jasem Al-Matar of Al-Qadsia for Round 18, Fawaz Ayed Al-Otaibi of Al-Salmiya for Round 19, Rashid Al-Dosari of Al-Qadsia for Round 20, and Mohammed Furaih of Al-Kuwait for Round 21. Before the current season began, the Kuwait Football Association formed a technical committee comprising former international players with extensive experience to establish the criteria for selecting the winners of Zain's incentive awards. The committee is chaired by Thamer Enad and includes Jamal Mubarak, Faisal Bourgba, Waleed Ali, and Mubarak Al-Wuqayan. For the third consecutive season, Zain continues to fulfill its promise to support athletes, players, and fans through its incentive awards. The company offers the largest prize pool in the history of the local league, exceeding KD 60,000 per season. This initiative aims to encourage emerging athletic talent, motivate players to perform at their highest level, and present the league in the best possible light to loyal Kuwaiti fans. This support reflects Zain's belief in the importance of the Kuwaiti private sector's role in supporting and developing local sports and elevating it to new levels. These incentives have contributed to the league's strong performance in recent seasons, raising the level of play, adding more excitement and energy to the matches, and providing a renewed experience for fans and football lovers. Zain's incentive awards this season include KD 10,000 for the Best Player of the Season, KD 500 per round for the Best Player of the Round, KD 5,000 for the Top Scorer in the professionals category, and KD 5,000 for the Top Scorer in the locals category. The awards also include KD 5,000 for the Best Goalkeeper of the Season, KD 3,000 for the Best Coach, KD 2,000 for the Best Rising Star, and KD 1,000 for the Best Photo of the Season. Zain is also awarding prizes exceeding KD 10,000 to winners of the Zain Fantasy League, an interactive digital competition that brings Kuwaiti football into the digital space and aims to engage fans creatively and innovatively.
Arab Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait seeks Arab Handball Cup final spot against Bahrain
KUWAIT CITY, May 8: Kuwait's national handball team faces a pivotal challenge at 7:00 pm today when it meets Bahrain in the semi-finals of the 10th Arab Handball Cup, hosted at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex. The tournament runs through May 11. Earlier in the day, the other semi-final will see a highly anticipated clash between Qatar and Egypt at 5:00 pm. As part of the classification rounds (5th–9th place), two matches are scheduled earlier in the day. Tunisia will take on Morocco at 1:00 pm, followed by Saudi Arabia against Iraq at 3:00 pm. Kuwait enters the semi-final with momentum, aiming for a third consecutive victory to secure a place in Sunday's final. Backed by home support and the advantage of playing on familiar turf, the Kuwaiti team hopes to overcome a tough and determined Bahraini side, also eager to reach the final. Bahrain, on its part, will rely on a quick transition game and solid teamwork under coach Predrag. Veteran players Hussein Al-Sayyad and goalkeeper Mohammed Abdul-Hussein are expected to lead the effort against the host. In the second semi-final, Group B leader Qatar will count on a blend of youth and experience to push past Egypt and reach the final. Egypt, which advanced as the best second-placed team, is looking to bounce back from a group stage loss to Bahrain and challenge Qatar for a place in the championship match. Qaid Al-Adwani, Secretary-General of the Kuwait Handball Federation and Director of the 10th Arab Cup, confirmed that the final will take place as scheduled on Sunday at 7:00 pm. He explained that the tournament dates were selected to align with International Handball Federation Week and the calendar of the Arab Handball Federation. The final will coincide with the Premier League football title decider on the same day. 'There is coordination with the Kuwait Football Association,' Al-Adwani noted. 'However, due to schedule constraints on both sides, Sunday remained the only viable option for the handball final.' Players of Kuwait's national team expressed joy following their win over the UAE in the final group stage match, which secured their top spot in Group C and a semi-final berth. Star player Abdulaziz Al-Shammari remarked, 'Winning two matches, topping the group, and reaching the semi-finals is the least we can offer Kuwait and its loyal fans. We are proud to host the Arab Handball Cup in Kuwait for the first time in 23 years — in the land of friendship and peace.' Goalkeeper Hassan Safar added, 'Our true joy lies in bringing happiness to our loyal fans who have supported us from the start. We call on them to fill the stands tonight and back us against Bahrain.'
