Latest news with #NebojsaJovovic
Arab Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Qadsia targets Amir Cup final as Kuwait Club eyes historic quadruple
KUWAIT CITY, May 28: Soccer fans are eagerly anticipating the highly awaited 'Classico between Al-Qadsia and Kuwait Club at 8:30 pm at Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium in the semi-finals of the Amir Cup today. The other semifinal will see Al-Arabi face Al-Salmiya on Friday, also at 8:30 pm at the same venue. Kuwait Club reached this stage by defeating Al-Jazeera 3-0 in the preliminary round and edging Khaitan 1-0 in the quarter-finals. Al-Qadsia advanced after a 3-2 win over Burgan in the preliminaries, followed by a dominant 3-0 victory against Al-Fahaheel in the quarters. This will be the fourth face-off between the two rivals this season. In the Zain Premier League, Kuwait Club claimed two victories (3-1 and 1-0), while Al-Qadsia earned a 2-1 win. The two also met in the Super Cup final, where Kuwait Club lifted the trophy after a 1-1 draw and a 7-6 penalty shootout victory. Having already won the league, Crown Prince Cup, and Super Cup, Kuwait Club aims to complete a remarkable season by reaching the final and securing a fourth trophy. Coach Nebojsa Jovovic acknowledges the challenge, noting Al-Qadsia's recent form improvement and determination to defend their title. He will rely on a strong squad featuring: Meshari Ghannam, Yahya Jabran, Yousef Nasser, Ali Hussein, Reda Hani, Ahmed Al-Dhafiri, Amin Abu Al-Fath, Mohammed Marhoon, Mohammed Daham, and Ahmed Al-Zanki. Reigning champion Al-Qadsia is determined to end the season on a high, return to the final, and defend its Amir Cup crown. Despite a rough patch earlier in the season, the team rebounded with an impressive quarter-final win over Al-Fahaheel, who had recently beaten it 7-4 in league play. Coach Zeljko Petrovic, whose contract expires on Saturday, hopes to cap off his tenure with a title run, though he hinted at staying on if the team reaches the final. His key players include: Bader Al-Mutawa, Eid Al-Rashidi, Ismail Khafi, Hussein Dahiri, Mubarak Al-Fanini, Abdulaziz Wadi, Khaled Sabah, Al-Mahdi Barahma, Daniel Jibola, and Adhbi Shehab.
Arab Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Jovovic: Crown Prince Cup final against Al-Arabi is a new challenge
KUWAIT CITY, May 18: Kuwait Club's Montenegrin coach Nebojsa Jovovic affirmed that the upcoming Crown Prince Cup final against Al-Arabi will be a completely different challenge compared to their recent Zain Premier League encounter. Speaking during a press conference held at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Jovovic stated, 'Every match has its character and context. We've already closed the chapter on the league, and now our full focus must be on winning the Cup.' Jovovic stressed that clinching the title would require top-level performance from all players, highlighting the importance of team readiness. 'Statistics matter in football. Both teams are tied in the number of Cup wins, and this final will determine who leads.' He also expressed optimism that their recent league triumph would serve as a motivational boost, enabling the players to maintain their momentum and pursue more trophies. Jovovic extended his appreciation to Kuwait Club Honorary President Marzouq Al-Ghanim and Club Chairman Khaled Al-Ghanim for their unwavering support, noting their regular presence at training sessions as a source of motivation for the players. Meanwhile, Kuwait Club's Ali Hussein reaffirmed the team's determination, saying, 'We are fully prepared for the final and eager to claim the title.'
Arab Times
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Qadisiya looks to spoil Kuwait's title hopes in the penultimate league round
KUWAIT CITY, May 5: The Zain Premier League reaches a decisive stage as Kuwait Club faces Al-Qadsiya tonight at 8:10 pm at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, in the fourth and penultimate round of the championship group. Earlier in the evening, Al-Arabi takes on Al-Tadamon at 5:35 pm at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium. Kuwait Club leads the standings with 54 points, closely followed by Al-Arabi in second place with 52. Tonight's outcome could prove critical in the title race, especially with a highly anticipated showdown between Kuwait Club and Al-Arabi scheduled for the final round on Sunday. Kuwait Club enters tonight's game determined to maintain momentum and secure its fourth consecutive league title — the 20th in its history. Montenegrin coach Nebojsa Jovovic will rely on his squad's strong form, especially after its emphatic 5-0 win over Al-Salmiya in the previous round. The two sides have already met three times this season. Al-Qadsiya handed Kuwait Club its only domestic loss with a 2-1 victory in the second round of the league, while Kuwait Club won 1-0 in the first round. It also faced off in the Super Cup, which Kuwait Club claimed via a 7-6 penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. Al-Qadsiya, currently third with 38 points, is out of the title race but hopes to equal Kuwait Club's win tally this season. With no pressure on its shoulders, the team looks to rebound under Montenegrin coach Zeljko Petrovic as it prepares for the upcoming Amir's Cup — its last opportunity for silverware this season. Al-Qadsiya is aiming to break a string of poor results, including back-to-back defeats by its archrival Al-Arabi, one of which knocked it out of the Crown Prince Cup. In the day's first match, Al-Arabi looks to keep the pressure on Kuwait Club by securing a win over Al-Tadamon, a side that has already guaranteed its Premier League status and has little left to play for. Coach Nasser Al-Shatti is fully aware that today's game won't be easy, as Al-Tadamon previously challenged his side in both rounds of the league matches that ended 3-1 and 1-0 in Al-Arabi's favor. Victory today would keep Al-Arabi in the hunt and set the stage for a title-deciding match against Kuwait Club in the league's final round.
Arab Times
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait Club clings to top spot after crushing Al-Salmiya
KUWAIT CITY, May 3: Kuwait Club maintained its lead at the top of the Zain Premier League standings with a dominant 5-0 win over Al-Salmiya in the third round of the group stage, played at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium. Al-Arabi continued its pursuit of the league leader, edging past traditional rivals Al-Qadsiya 1-0 in the same round. With just two rounds remaining, Kuwait Club sits on 54 points—two ahead of second-placed Al-Arabi. The decisive final rounds are fast approaching: Kuwait Club will meet Al-Qadsiya, while Al-Arabi faces Al-Tadamon in the fourth round this Tuesday. The much-anticipated clash between Kuwait Club ("the Whites") and Al-Arabi ("the Greens") will take place in the fifth and final round next Sunday. Kuwait Club's Montenegrin head coach, Nebojsa Jovovic, praised his players' seriousness and intensity from the first whistle, noting that their sharp performance was key to the commanding win over Al-Salmiya. 'Although it wasn't an easy match, the players managed the game well from start to finish,' Jovovic said. 'We must now stay focused and finish the job in the remaining two matches.' He emphasized that the final phase of the league demands maximum concentration and consistent effort. Al-Arabi coach Nasser Al-Shatti expressed his determination to push for the title with a short but powerful message on social media: '...until the end.' The message reflects his team's persistence and ambition following a crucial derby win. Al-Arabi has now won four out of five recent matchups against Al-Qadsiya, including both home and away league fixtures (2-1 and 4-2) and a 1-0 win in the Crown Prince Cup semi-finals. Al-Qadsiya's only recent triumph was a 1-0 Super Cup victory. Al-Qadsiya veteran Abdullah Al-Shamali cited his team's 'lack of motivation and ambition' as a key reason for their poor showing against Al-Arabi. He acknowledged that several injuries and fatigue from tight scheduling also affected the team's performance. 'We didn't approach the match with the required passion, and that impacted us badly,' Al-Shamali admitted. 'Our priority now is to finish the season strongly, especially in the Amir's Cup.' He concluded with an apology to the fans: 'We sincerely apologize to our loyal supporters. We promise to fight for positive results in every remaining match.'
Arab Times
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait Club and Al-Arabi enter Zain Premier League crossroads
KUWAIT CITY, April 30: Kuwait Club and Al-Arabi have moved past the Crown Prince Cup, with Kuwait Club securing a 4-2 victory over Kazma and Al-Arabi edging Qadsia 1-0 in the semi-finals last Monday. This sets up an exciting final between the two teams on May 19. Both teams have quickly shifted focus to their upcoming Zain Premier League matches, where Kuwait Club will face Al-Salmiya and Al-Arabi will take on Qadsia in the third round of the championship group tomorrow. The league remains a tight two-way race, with Kuwait Club leading the standings with 51 points, closely followed by Al-Arabi in second place with 49 points. With only three rounds remaining, the competition for third place is heating up between Qadsia (38 points) and Al-Salmiya (32 points). Despite the intensity of their Crown Prince Cup semi-final matches, both teams resumed their preparations just 24 hours later to ensure they are fully ready for tomorrow's crucial encounters. The next round is considered a "crossroads," and both teams are preparing for it with great focus and determination to secure a positive result. Al-Arabi's progression to the final was a result of solid defensive organization and standout performances, particularly from team captain and goalkeeper Suleiman Abdul Ghafoor. Kuwait Club, on the other hand, showed resilience in its comeback against the "Orange," leveraging its experience to achieve a vital win. Both teams come into the match without significant injuries, as most of their key players were available for the Crown Prince Cup semi-finals. This gives the technical staff of Kuwait Club, led by Montenegrin coach Nebojsa Jovovic, and Al-Arabi's national coach Nasser Al-Shatti, the flexibility to select their best possible lineups. The upcoming round is crucial for both teams. A win for one and a loss for the other could provide a significant morale boost for the victor, while the loser may face a dip in confidence. This dynamic could have a major impact on the race for the title, with both teams aiming to finish at the top of the table with only two rounds remaining in the competition.
