01/07/2026
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01/07/2026
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KUWAIT CITY, July 1: Zain, the strategic partner of the Kuwait Football Association, celebrated the stars of the 2025-2026 Dawri Zain Premier League season at its annual Excellence Awards ceremony, which brought together football stars, athletes, media representatives, and members of the local sports community.
The event was attended by Minister of State for Youth and Sports Affairs Dr. Tareq Al-Jalahma, Kuwait Football Association President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, Corporate Relations & Communications Director at Zain Kuwait Hamad Al-Musaibeeh, senior officials from the KFA and the Public Authority for Sport, members of the technical committee responsible for selecting this year’s winners, the honored players, and several sports sector leaders.
In his opening remarks, Minister of State for Youth and Sports Affairs Dr. Tareq Al-Jalahma said: “This wonderful occasion celebrates a group of talents and achievements in our local sports scene and honors those who worked hard, persevered, and excelled throughout an eventful sports season.”
“My message to the next generation of athletes is this: write down your dream, work hard for it, and never stop at the limits of ambition. What you have achieved today did not come out of nowhere. It came through your hard work, commitment, determination, and the support of an entire ecosystem that stood behind you.”
He added: “A great player is not shaped by talent alone. Talent exists, but it needs someone to nurture and refine it. Here, we must emphasize three essential pillars: the home and family, the school and teachers, and the club and coaches. We are proud of every parent who dedicated their time and effort to support their child so they can become the champions of the future. We are also proud of every coach who believed in talent, developed it, and continued to build it until it reached this level.”
“I am proud of this outstanding group that we honor today, and proud of the sporting momentum we are witnessing, which reflects a new and promising phase for Kuwaiti sports. Our hopes are high, and our ambitions are even greater. Through collaboration between government institutions, federations, clubs, and the private sector, we can build a stronger and more sustainable sports ecosystem.”
Al-Jalahma continued: “I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Bader Al-Kharafi, to Zain, and to private sector supporters of Kuwaiti sports for their role in providing the best means to support athletes and develop local competitions. I also thank the KFA, its President and Board members, and everyone who contributed to the success of this season.”
He concluded by addressing the winners: “You delivered an exceptional season, and we all went through exceptional circumstances this year. Yet through the spirit of collaboration and joint work, you were able to present an honorable image of Kuwaiti sports. What comes next will be even better; ambition will continue, and future achievements will be greater.”
Kuwait Football Association President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah said: “I am very pleased to be with you today at this distinguished ceremony, among this group of young athletes who represent the present and future of Kuwaiti football.”
“I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Zain, the official sponsor and strategic partner of the KFA, for its continued support and clear contribution to the success of the Association’s competitions. This support was not merely a sponsorship, but a true partnership that produced a distinguished sports season on more than one level.”
He added: “This season, we faced difficult circumstances and major challenges, but at the same time it was one of our most successful seasons, thanks to everyone’s cooperation and the spirit of one team. We witnessed strong league competitions, remarkable fan attendance, successful organization of H.H. the Amir’s Cup and H.H. the Crown Prince’s Cup, as well as the hosting of an important global event such as the French Super Cup in Kuwait, with the support of Zain, the Public Authority for Sport, and more.”
“What was achieved this season confirms that collective joint work creates real and sustainable impact. When the efforts of the KFA, the private sector, the Public Authority for Sport, clubs, and fans come together, we can raise the level of Kuwaiti football and provide players with a better environment for growth and excellence.”
Al-Yousef continued: “We will continue this approach in the coming seasons, and we will continue to work with our partners to support local competitions, develop talent, and strengthen the presence of Kuwaiti football in a way that reflects its history and the ambitions of its fans.”
He concluded: “I once again thank and appreciate Zain for its great support, and everyone who worked and contributed to the success of this season. To the players I say: you are the future of Kuwaiti football. Continue to work and strive, because the opportunities ahead of you are great, and ambition has no limits.”
Corporate Relations & Communications Director at Zain Kuwait, Hamad Al-Musaibeehsaid: “On behalf of Zain, I extend my sincere congratulations to Kuwait SC on winning the Dawri Zain Premier League title for the 21sttime in the club’s history. I also thank and appreciate all participating teams for the strong competition and high sportsmanship they demonstrated throughout the season, which delighted Kuwaiti fans and reflected the beautiful image of local football.”
“This evening we celebrate excellence and honor a group of Dawri Zain Premier League stars for the 2025-2026 season, in recognition of their dedication, discipline, and competitive spirit, which contributed to enriching Kuwait’s football scene.”
“At Zain, we view sports as more than competition on the pitch. Sports is an ecosystem that builds people, instills values, brings fans together, inspires youth, and creates beautiful opportunities for pride and belonging. That’s why our support for Kuwaiti football comes as an extension of our corporate purpose to createBetter Lives& Lasting Connections.”
“Since the start of our strategic partnership with the KFA, we have believed that true sporting success is not defined by a single moment or one season. It is built through continuity, structured collaboration, talent development, and an enhanced football experience for fans, players, and clubs alike.”
“Today, as we continue this partnership for the fourth consecutive season, we are proud that Dawri Zain has become a key pillar in our local sports scene, not only through competition on the pitch, but also through initiatives that help raise performance levels, honor hard work, highlight stars, and encourage future generations to continue the journey.”
“Zain’s incentive awards, which exceed KD 60,000 in total value per season, carry a clear message to every player, coach, and young talent: excellence is seen, hard work is appreciated, and dedication on the pitch deserves recognition.”
“We also remain committed to honoring young talents across age-group competitions, because the future of Kuwaiti football begins at these levels. These players are the stars of tomorrow, and investing in them today is an investment in the future of our national sport and in Kuwait’s ability to compete and make a proud presence across different arenas.”
“This year’s ceremony also honors the stars of the Women’s Futsal League, a step we are especially proud of as it reflects Zain’s commitment to empowering female athletes and giving their achievements the recognition they deserve within the local sports scene. Kuwaiti sports can only reach its full potential when wider opportunities are created for all talents, encouraging women athletes to excel and strengthening the diversity and vitality of Kuwait’s sporting landscape.”
He added: “I also extend my sincere thanks to the KFA and to the President and members of the technical committee for their great efforts in selecting the winners with professionalism and transparency, in a way that reflects the value and standing of these awards among players and fans.”
“I warmly congratulate all the winners tonight, and I say to them: this recognition is not merely the end of a season, but the beginning of a greater responsibility to continue giving, raise the ceiling of ambition, and represent your clubs, fans, and Kuwaiti football in the best possible way.”
Al-Musaibeeh concluded: “At Zain, we affirm that our support for Kuwaiti sports will remain an integral part of our national and community role. We will continue working with our partners to support a more competitive, more professional environment that is more capable of creating sustainable achievement.”
Zain honored this year’s winners across several key categories as follows:
Winner Club Award
Yousef Nasser Kuwait SC Season’s Best Player, KD 10,000
Top Scorer - Local Players, KD 5,000
Taha Al-Khenissi Top Scorer - Professional Players, KD 5,000
Saud Al-Houshan Season’s Goalkeeper, KD 5,000
Nebojša Jovović Season’s Coach, KD 3,000
Ali Hassan Al-Nasr Season’s Rising Star, KD 2,000
Zain also honored Qadsia SC’s superstar Bader Al-Mutawa with the Kuwaiti Football Legend Award, in recognition of a career that made history and inspired generations. In addition, a number of outstanding young players from the age-group competitions were honored in recognition of their excellence and to motivate them at the beginning of their football journey.
Under-18 League
Winner Club Award
Musfer Khaled Al-Adwani, Kuwait SC Best Player
Top Scorer
Rakan Mishal Al-Saeed, Qadsia Best Goalkeeper
Under-16 League
Winner Club Award
Mohammad Jarrah Al-Otaiqi Kuwait SC Best Player
Othman Yousef Al-Kandari Yarmouk Best Goalkeeper
Jaber Saud Jaber Sinan Kazma Top Scorer of the Season
Under-14 ‘Hope’ League
Winner Club Award
Yousef Bader Al-Enezi Qadsia Best Player
Ahmad Khaled Mansouri Best Goalkeeper
Omar Hamdan Al-Hamdan Salmiya Top Scorer of the Season
FIFA TDS Under-13 Promising Talents League
Winner Club Award
Omar Abdulwahab Al-Safi Kuwait SC Best Player
Salah Dherar Al-Roudhan Best Goalkeeper
Yousef Hamdan Al-Maghribi Kazma Top Scorer of the Season
This year’s ceremony also honored the stars of the Women’s Futsal League, as part of Zain’s commitment to empowering female sporting talents and highlighting their deserved presence in the local sports scene:
Women’s Futsal League
Winner Club Award
Maryam Abdullah Mohammad Noor Al-Fatat Club Best Player
Aisha Faisal Al-Saabri, Al-Fatat Club Best Goalkeeper
Reem Ahmad Al-Mulla Police Sports Union Top Scorer of the Season
The media committee was also honored in appreciation of its role in the success of the season’s outstanding coverage. The winners of the Best Sports Photo of the Season were also recognized, honoring the lenses that captured the most memorable moments of competition:
Best Photo Award
Ranking Winner
First Place Abdullah Mulla Ali
Second Place Abdullah Sabil
Third Place Talal Hadi Al-Nashwan
Before the start of the current season, the Kuwait Football Association formed a technical committee comprising many former international players with extensive experience, tasked with developing the technical criteria and standards for selecting the winners of Zain’s incentive awards. The committee included Mohammad Al-Failakawi as President, Sameer Dashti as Vice President, Adel Yousef, Hussein Hakem, and Nawaf Al-Khaldi. Zain extended its sincere thanks and appreciation to them for their efforts throughout the season.
Zain’s support for Kuwaiti sports will remain a priority to advance national sports and motivate future generations to pursue excellence, contributing to a greater presence for Kuwaiti sports across regional and international platforms.
