KUWAIT CITY, June 18: Al-Arabi began recruiting local talent and strengthening its ranks for the new season early on, signing Yacoub Tararwa and Mohamed Khaled, along with Tunisian physical trainer Khalil Jebabli.

Tararwa has had several local experiences, starting his career with Kuwait Club and moving between Al-Tadamon, Kazma, Al-Nasr, Al-Fahaheel, and Khaitan clubs. Meanwhile, Khaled played for Al-Qadisiya, Kazma, and Al-Nasr clubs.

Jebabli previously worked with Tunisian coach Nabil Maaloul in training the Kuwaiti national team and was part of the technical staff at Kuwait Club. He also had a stint with Al-Arabi before moving to the technical staff at Al-Qadisiya.

Al-Arabi has given the green light to some of its local players to seek new opportunities. Issa Walid and Saif Al-Hashan were the first to leave, joining Salmiya, with other players expected to follow.

The transfer movement includes most clubs as they prepare for the new season starting in August, especially following the Football Association’s decision to reduce the team roster to 25 players.

Al-Qadisiya, released Nayef Zuwaid, Dhari Saeed, Muhammad Khalil, Aziz Nasari, Sultan Salbukh, Talal Al-Ansari, Abdullah Mawi, and others while signing Athbi Shehab and Moaz Al-Dhafiri.

Salmiya renewed contracts with Mahdi Dashti, Muhammad Al-Huwaidi, and Abdul Aziz Marawi, and signed Saif Al-Hashan and Issa Walid while seeking replacements for Moaz Al-Dhafiri and Athbi Shehab.

Kazma renewed contracts with Nasser Faraj, goalkeeper Faisal Al-Subaie, Sharida Al-Shraida, Mohammed Al-Azmi, and Nasser Falih, and signed Al-Nasr’s Colombian players, Hancel Zapata and Meshal Al-Shammari.

Al-Tadamon’s management contracted with Fahd Al-Rashidi and Naif Zuwaid while monitoring Aziz Nasari and Talal Al-Ansari.

Al-Fahaheel renewed contracts with all its professionals, except Brazilian Julio Cesar, and also renewed goalkeeper Ahmed Adi’s contract. They signed Brazilian professional Rodrigo, a former Al-Jahra player, and Abdullah Mawi from Al-Qadisiya, and Mishal Fawaz from Al-Nasr.

Al-Nasr lost several key players in the transfer market, including Colombian Zapata, Algerian Ayman Lakjaa, and Libyan Moataz Al-Lafi, along with Meshal Fawaz, Meshal Al-Shammari, and Mohamed Khaled.

Hassan Musa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff