Women’s team fall to British Military Corps – Newly formed nat’l team displayed impressive performance
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KUWAIT CITY, Oct 18: The newly assembled (two weeks) squad of Kuwait Women’s National Football Team lost 2:5 to the British Military Corps Team in a friendly match at Sheikh Jaber International Stadium amid a huge turnout of fans and supporters on Tuesday.
The match saw the attendance of Chairman of the Interim Committee running the affairs of Kuwait Football Association (KFA) Ibrahim Al-Shihab, Sheikha Naeema Al-Ahmad, KFA Secretary General Dr Mohammad Khalil, Women Football Committee Chairperson Dr Anwar Al-Nouri, and Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Kuwait Jacky Perkins, and British Defense Attaché Captain Finlay McLean.
Despite the negative result, the national team displayed very high level of individual play and offensive technique. It was clear that individual skills overshadowed group performance as teamwork spark was lacking in most part of the match. This could be attributed to the short time that the team practiced together. The organized play and counter attacks of the British Military Corps Team resulted in five goals. Abrar Al-Hamada scored the double for Al Azraq.
Al-Shihab praised the role of the Military Corps team in playing with the national team, expressing his gratitude and appreciation to the British Embassy in Kuwait for making the match possible. He was impressed with the performance of the two teams, pointing out that the national team played very well despite the little time they had for practice. He expects the Women Football Committee in the federation to come up with a comprehensive plan to promote and develop the game and lay down the foundation, especially since the interim committee is keen on supporting the sport.
Meanwhile, Al-Nouri affirmed that Kuwait witnessed a wonderful women sports celebration in front of football fans at Jaber International Stadium. She expressed satisfaction over the performance of the players, indicating that playing against a team with high level individual skills was good for the national team.
She explained the time was not enough to prepare for the game as the invitation by the British Embassy came on short notice. Nevertheless, she is happy that the organization of the game went smoothly.
She affirmed the committee will cooperate with all clubs and continue to play friendly matches for the team to be ready to compete in Gulf, Arab and continental competitions once the ban imposed on Kuwait football is lifted.
On the other hand, Deputy Chairman of Women Football Committee Fatma Hayat said the national squad was formed in less than a week, and that this match was the kickoff for the committee and the sport.
She clarified the current goal is to prepare the national team to participate in Asian football qualifiers for the 2024 World Cup. She then thanked the Public Authority for Sport and its acting Director General – Dr Hamoud Fleiteh, as well as Kuwait Football Association Interim Committee led by Ibrahim Al Shihab, for their unlimited support for women football.
By Suzan Nasser – Al-Seyassah Staff
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