Latest news with #KuwaitFootballAssociation
Arab Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait U-17 team heads to Serbia for training camp
KUWAIT CITY, July 20: The Kuwait U-17 national football team departed for Serbia to begin a training camp in preparation for upcoming competitions. The delegation is led by Kuwait Football Association Board Member Ayman Al-Husseini. The camp will feature several friendly matches designed to evaluate the players' readiness ahead of future tournaments. Meanwhile, the Olympic team has wrapped up its training camp in Cairo, Egypt, where it played a series of friendly matches. The camp was part of the team's preparations for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, which are set to take place in Saudi Arabia in January. Kuwait will compete in Group B, alongside Japan, Afghanistan, and host nation Myanmar, with matches scheduled from September 1 to 9. In a related development, the junior team continues its daily training sessions in the Czech Republic, where it is also holding a preparatory camp for upcoming engagements.
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait Olympic team takes on Egypt again
CAIRO, July 19: Kuwait's Olympic national football team is set to play its fourth friendly match today during its training camp in Cairo, Egypt. The Blue team will meet Egypt at 8:00 pm. at El-Hadaf Stadium. In its third friendly, Kuwait fell to Egypt 3-2. Abdulrahman Al-Rashidi and Jasem Al-Matar scored for the Kuwaiti side. The match was attended by Kuwait's Ambassador to Egypt, Ghanem Saqr Al-Ghanem, along with Osama Hussein, Vice President of the Kuwait Football Association for Technical Affairs; board member Dr. Ahmad Ajab; Al-Arabi SC representative Ali Atsh; and National Teams Director Saud Al-Mujaimmed. This camp is part of Kuwait's preparation for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, scheduled for January in Saudi Arabia. Kuwait is in Group B alongside Japan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar. The qualifiers will run from September 1 to 9 in Myanmar. Separately, Kuwait's youth national team played to a 2-2 draw with the Czech youth team Dukla Prague during its ongoing training camp in the Czech Republic. The match was attended by KFA board member Fahad Al-Hamlan and Kuwait's Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Falah Al-Hajraf. Goals for Kuwait were scored by Bader Al-Zanki and Youssef Al-Enezi. The youth team is expected to play more friendlies in the coming days to prepare for upcoming commitments.
Arab Times
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait's Ambassador to Egypt hosts Olympic team during Cairo training camp
CAIRO, July 13: Kuwait's Ambassador to Egypt, Ghanem Saqr Al-Ghanim, hosted a dinner in honor of the Kuwaiti Olympic football team delegation currently participating in a training camp in Cairo, part of its preparations for the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers. The dinner was attended by key football officials, including Osama Hussein, Vice Chairman of the Kuwait Football Association for Technical Affairs; Dr. Ahmed Ajab, Board Member of the Association; and Saud Al-Mujammed, Director of National Teams. In appreciation of the ambassador's warm reception and support, the Kuwaiti delegation presented him with a commemorative shield and a signed Blue Team jersey. The team is set to resume training this evening after its second friendly match. The technical and administrative staff have focused on ramping up preparations, with more friendly matches lined up. As part of their friendly schedule, the Blues will face Egypt in two matches next Thursday and Sunday. The Cairo camp is a key component of the team's buildup to the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers, set to take place in Saudi Arabia in January. Kuwait will compete in Group B, alongside Japan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar, with matches scheduled from September 1 to 9. Head coach Dario Pesic and assistant Mohamed Al-Filakawi are aiming to raise the squad's fitness levels and strengthen team chemistry. A reshuffle in the squad is expected during the second preparation phase in August, as they finalize the lineup for the decisive qualifying tournament.
Arab Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Arabi Club accuses KFA of mishandling Hamdan transfer
KUWAIT CITY, July 6: Al-Arabi Club has formally written to the Kuwait Football Association (KFA), expressing surprise and concern over the association's lack of response regarding the removal of defender Hassan Hamdan from Al-Arabi's roster. The letter highlights the involvement of KFA President Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef, who urged the prevention of violations to safeguard club rights and maintain the association's reputation among sports fans. Al-Arabi accused the KFA of ignoring a notarized contract and attempting to issue an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) without proper authorization. On June 19, Al-Arabi submitted Hamdan's new contract to the KFA for registration and authentication, proving his ongoing contractual ties. Despite responding promptly to KFA's July 3 request for additional information, Al-Arabi discovered through the Transfer Matching System (TMS) that their name was removed from Hamdan's records. The club claims the KFA issued the ITC before receiving their reply, violating official procedures. The letter alleges deliberate delays and obstruction aimed at undermining Al-Arabi's contractual rights by processing the ITC before the new contract was officially approved, raising concerns of bias and unfairness. Al-Arabi warns that the KFA's silence could strengthen the player's position and potentially lead to future arbitration disputes, damaging the reputations of both Al-Arabi and the Kuwait Football Association. The club holds the KFA fully responsible for any legal or sporting consequences arising from this inaction. Separately, Al-Arabi is preparing a formal complaint against Al-Ahli Club of Jordan for engaging in unauthorized negotiations with Hassan Hamdan despite his active contract with Al-Arabi. This follows a previous failed negotiation with the Al-Ramtha Club of Jordan last June.
Kuwait Times
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait football's brightest stars shine at Zain's annual Excellence Awards
KUWAIT: Zain Kuwait, the strategic partner of the Kuwait Football Association, honored the stars of the 2024-2025 Zain Premier League (Dawri Zain) season during the annual Excellence Awards, which brought together an elite group of Kuwaiti sports stars, media figures and sports personalities. The event marked the conclusion of the third season of Zain's strategic partnership with the KFA, reaffirming the company's commitment to supporting sports and youth in Kuwait, contributing to the development of Kuwaiti football, and encouraging players and coaching staff to achieve peak performance. The event was attended by Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, President of the Kuwait Football Association; Waleed Al-Khashti, Chief Corporate Affairs & Relations Officer at Zain Kuwait; senior KFA officials; members of the technical committee responsible for selecting this year's award winners; honored players; along with sports leaders and media representatives. In his opening remarks, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah stated: 'I am very pleased to be here today at Zain, this leading company that has provided tremendous and impactful support to the Kuwait Football Association over the past three years.' He added: 'I extend my sincere thanks to the Chairman, members of the Board of Directors, and Bader Al-Kharafi for this fruitful collaboration. This outstanding event and its excellent organization truly reflect their genuine commitment to the advancement of football in Kuwait.' He continued: 'It also brings me great joy to see this talented group of young players, who represent the future of Kuwaiti football. I wish them continued success and progress, to see them in the Premier League and eventually in our national teams.' He concluded: 'In collaboration with Zain, we at the KFA promise to provide even greater support in the upcoming season, which kicks off on September 14, aiming for an even more competitive and successful league. We will also place special focus on further developing the Under-20 League. Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who contributed to this success.' In his remarks during the event, Waleed Al-Khashti said: 'It is my pleasure to welcome you all to Zain's Wonderful World, where we gather to celebrate the conclusion of an exciting sports season and to honor an elite group of athletes from the 2024-2025 Zain Premier League.' He added: 'We believe that the role of the private sector in supporting youth and sports is not optional, but a national responsibility and a cornerstone for building a vibrant and ambitious society. For this reason, we remain committed to supporting and motivating sports talent to excel, so that Kuwait's name continues to shine in regional and international arenas. One clear example of this is the great success of the Khaleeji Zain 26 tournament held earlier this year, which united the GCC nations here in Kuwait.' He further stated: 'At Zain, we view sports support as more than just a marketing partnership. Our aim is to instill a spirit of achievement and contribute to building an integrated sports ecosystem that leaves a positive impact on society. We take great pride in our partnership with the Kuwait Football Association, which has resulted in key milestones in recent years, and we look forward to an even more distinguished season ahead.' He added: 'We also believe that sports is an effective platform for instilling values such as teamwork, perseverance, and discipline, values we are equally committed to fostering within our work environment at Zain.' He continued: 'Today, we honor an outstanding group of players and athletes who excelled last season, recognizing their exceptional performance on the field. We are also pleased to introduce a new addition to this event — honoring a group of talented youth players from the age categories — a gesture aimed at encouraging them at the start of their careers and nurturing their talents to become future stars.' He also said: 'I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Kuwait Football Association and the members of the technical committee who worked tirelessly with great professionalism to select this year's Excellence Award winners in a transparent manner.' He concluded: 'At Zain, we renew our deep commitment to supporting everything that helps elevate Kuwait's name, whether on the sports field or in the fields of innovation and technological progress.' This year, Zain honored winners in the following main categories, as announced at the beginning of the season: At the senior level, Mohammed Daham of Kuwait SC was named Player of the Season, receiving a prize of KD 10,000. His teammate Yousef Nasser earned the Top Local Scorer title, along with KD 5,000. Vitor Vieira from Fahaheel SC was recognized as the Top Professional Scorer, also receiving KD 5,000. The Goalkeeper of the Season award went to Saud Al-Houshan of Kuwait SC, who was awarded KD 5,000. Nebojša Jovović, also from Kuwait SC, was honored as Coach of the Season, taking home KD 3,000. The Rising Star of the Season title was awarded to Jassim Matar of Qadsia SC, with a prize of KD 2,000. Zain also celebrated standout performers in the youth divisions. In the Blue League (Under 21), Saleh Al-Mutheb of Kazma was named Best Player. His teammate Hussein Kankouni received the award for Best Goalkeeper, while Abdullah Al-Awadhi from Qadsia SC was the Top Scorer. In the Under 19 League, Fadhel Al-Sarraf of Qadsia SC claimed the Best Player title and also emerged as Top Scorer. His teammate Abdulaziz Abdeen was named Best Goalkeeper. In the Under 17 League, Abdullah Al-Rasheedi from Al-Arabi SC won Best Player. Ahmed Al-Hazzaa of Al-Salmiya SC was awarded Best Goalkeeper, and Jaber Sanan of Kazma was the league's Top Scorer. In the Under 15 League, Saad Al-Shammari of Qadsia SC was recognized as Best Player. His teammates Hussein Dashti received the Best Goalkeeper award, and Mohammed Al-Yousef earned the Top Scorer title. To ensure the highest level of transparency in the selection process, the KFA formed a technical committee at the beginning of the season, consisting of distinguished former national players and experts: Thamer Enad (Committee Head), Jamal Mubarak, Faisal Borqaba, Waleed Ali and Mubarak Al-Woqayan. Zain extended its sincere thanks and appreciation to them for their great efforts and high professionalism throughout the season. Zain expressed its pride in this partnership with the Kuwait Football Association, which has elevated the professional standards of Kuwaiti football competitions. This season, matches featured strong performances and widespread fan engagement. Zain firmly believes that the private sector plays a vital role in supporting sports and youth, not only through financial sponsorship, but by actively contributing to the creation of a sustainable sports environment that fosters excellence, innovation and higher competition levels locally. As this season concludes with the Excellence Awards, Zain reaffirms its commitment to continuing this leadership role in cooperation with the Kuwait Football Association, under a strategic partnership that includes sponsorship of the Premier League (Dawri Zain), HH the Amir's Cup, HH the Crown Prince's Cup and the First Division League. Zain affirms that its support for Kuwaiti sports will remain a fundamental pillar of its social responsibility strategy, with the goal of elevating national sports, inspiring future generations to excel, and helping Kuwaiti sports achieve honorable representation in regional and international competitions.
