Latest news with #ZeljkoPetrovic
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
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
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Excitement builds in the Zain Premier League as Al-Arabi narrows the gap with Kuwait Club
KUWAIT CITY, April 21: As the second round of the Zain Premier League Championship Group concluded, the competition intensified between the top two teams, Kuwait Club and Al-Arabi. Al-Arabi trimmed the points gap to just two after securing a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Al-Salmiya, building on Kuwait Club's 2-2 draw with Al-Fahaheel earlier. Following a four-point gap after the first round, Al-Arabi had hoped for other teams' help to halt Kuwait Club's momentum. With a draw against Al-Fahaheel, Al-Arabi successfully stopped Kuwait Club's progress, much like it did with Al-Green, leaving the title race in Kuwait Club's hands. The team now controls its destiny for the league title. Kuwait Club, still at the top of the table with 51 points, failed to impress in its draw with Al-Fahaheel. Despite dominating possession for much of the match, it struggled to break down Al-Fahaheel's defense, with several scoring chances wasted. However, Kuwait Club still found a way to breach the formidable Ahmed Adi, Al-Fahaheel's goalkeeper, and came away with a crucial point. Meanwhile, Al-Fahaheel, in fifth place with 30 points, proved tough competition and made it clear it won't be an easy opponent in its upcoming Crown Prince Cup quarterfinal against Al-Arabi. Al-Arabi, currently second with 49 points, put on a commanding first-half performance against Al-Salmiya, scoring three goals and missing several others. However, it was nearly caught off guard in the closing stages, with Al-Salmiya scoring two late goals. Despite the pressure, Al-Arabi held on for the win. In the third spot, Al-Qadsiya (38 points) delivered a dominant 5-0 win over sixth-placed Al-Tadamon (20 points), solidifying its third-place position. The team's coach, Zeljko Petrovic, also took the opportunity to rotate his squad, giving substitute players like Faisal Al-Shatti, Khaled Sabah, and Jassim Al-Matar valuable match experience ahead of the Crown Prince Cup quarterfinal clash with Al-Salmiya. Similarly, Al-Salmiya (32 points) rotated their lineup, with coach Ante Miša fielding substitutes such as Saif Al-Hashan and Yousef Al-Onaizan, to prepare for the upcoming match against Al-Qadisiyah. Al-Qadsiya's Rashed Al-Dosari earned the Best Player of the Round award for his outstanding performance against Al-Tadamon. Al-Dosari was instrumental in several of the team's five goals, showcasing his influence throughout the match.
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
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Petrovic to stay on as Qadsiya cements third-place finish in Zain Premier League
KUWAIT CITY, March 29: Montenegrin coach Zeljko Petrovic is on the verge of renewing his contract with Qadsiya for another season. Recent discussions between both parties have resulted in an agreement on most terms, reflecting the club's satisfaction with his leadership. Under Petrovic's guidance, Qadsiya has made a strong impact, securing a spot in the Gulf Champions League final, where it will face Iraq's Duhok in a two-legged tie in early April. The team also holds third place in the Zain Premier League. Qadisiya closed out its Zain Premier League campaign with a 2-1 win over Khaitan in the 18th and final round, cementing its third-place finish with 37 points. Meanwhile, Khaitan remains in ninth place with 11 points. Despite its efforts, Khaitan failed to secure a crucial point before heading into the relegation playoff battle, where it must overtake Al-Nasr (12 points) to retain its Premier League status. With little time to rest, Qadsiya has already shifted focus to three crucial competitions: Crown Prince Cup Preliminary Round – It will be facing Al-Nasr tomorrow in a postponed fixture. Championship League (Top Six League) – Opening against Al-Fahaheel on Friday. Gulf Champions League Final – Hosting Duhok (Iraq) on April 8 for the first leg. The team is racing against time to recover key players Khaled Ibrahim, Abdulaziz Wadi, and Bader Al-Mutawa, who are nursing muscle injuries. Elsewhere, Kazma took a major step toward Premier League survival, climbing to seventh place with 19 points after a 2-0 victory over Yarmouk. With three matches remaining, it needs just one more point to secure its place. On the other hand, Yarmouk's survival hopes are fading, sitting at the bottom of the table with six points. To avoid relegation, it must win all three of its remaining matches while hoping Al-Nasr (9 points) continues to drop points.
