KUWAIT CITY, June 20: Kuwait Club’s Ahmed Al-Zenki is nearing a move to Al-Arabi for the next season, with negotiations between the two parties reaching advanced stages.

Al-Arabi began its player recruitment early, targeting both local and foreign talents to strengthen its squad according to the wishes of Coach Nasser Al-Shatti. This follows the team's disappointing performance in last season's tournaments after Khaled Al-Wafad's departure.

At the end of last season, Al-Arabi made several changes, appointing Khaled Al-Qabandi as head of the football staff in place of Ali Jawad. The club also hired Tunisian physical trainer Khalil Al-Jababli and goalkeeping coach Saleh Mahdi. Additionally, Al-Arabi conducted a review of its foreign players, releasing Moroccan players Walid Al-Sabbar, Ayman, and Algerian Imad Eddine Bou Bakr. Meanwhile, Moroccan Hamza Khaba and Nigerian Anayo Iweala will continue with the team.

Ali Mandani, Vice Chairman of Al-Arabi’s Board of Directors, announced ongoing negotiations with foreign players for the positions of right winger, center-back, and midfielder, and confirmed that talks with Al-Zenki are in progress.

Al-Seyassah reports that Algerian player Ahmed Khalidi is also close to joining Al-Arabi, with negotiations at an advanced stage. Khalidi, a 25-year-old right winger, previously played for Algerian clubs Constantine, Hilal Shalghoum El Eid, and Olympia Medea.

Mandani acknowledged that Kuwait Club has acquired most of the prominent local players, emphasizing Al-Arabi's focus on signing professionals who can add significant value to the team.

Additionally, several local players are expected to leave Al-Arabi next season. Following the departures of Saif Al-Hashan and Issa Walid, Badr Tariq is likely to join Al-Salmiya, especially with the Football Association's decision to reduce team rosters to 25 players for the new season. To bolster its squad, Al-Arabi has signed local players Yacoub Al-Tarawa and Mohamed Khaled.

Training for Al-Arabi is set to begin at the end of June, continuing for two weeks before the team departs for an external training camp in Turkey, which will include several friendly matches.

By Hassan Musa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff