KUWAIT CITY, Jan 15: Jaber Al-Kandari, Vice-President of the International Federation of Deaf Football, said that he is seeking, in cooperation with the International Federation of Deaf Football, to hold the first World Cup for the deaf in Kuwait during the current or next year, with the participation of 24 international players subject to the laws of the International Federation of the game.

This came during the reception he held, on the occasion of his election as Vice- President of the World Federation of Deaf Football affiliated to the International Federation of the game “FIFA”, which was held last December in Malaysia.

Al-Kandari competed against representatives of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, France, Bosnia and Russia, and a representative of the African continent. Al-Kandari won by obtaining 8 votes against 7 for his closest competitor, the representative of Turkey. The vote was preceded by the candidates explaining their work plan for the new session and their CV, as Al-Kandari’s biography won the approval and acceptance of all. Al-Kandari dedicated his victory to His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince.

Al-Kandari indicated that Kuwait has the infrastructure and the high capabilities that qualify it to host this great event, including the facilities of the International Deaf Club and Jaber Stadium. “I hope that there will be great support from the government represented by the Public Authority for Sports and the Kuwaiti Olympic Committee, as well as the private sector in order to host the international competition, and that Kuwait will be the first country in the world to organize this event.”

The Vice-President of the World Federation of Deaf Football revealed ideas and agenda that will contribute in the future to the development of football for the deaf, including the promotion of the game for the young ones, as they are the future of this sport and caring for them is our duty to create successive sports generations capable of competing in tournaments, whether local, regional or international.

Al-Kandari thanked everyone who stood with him during the election, hoping that he and his colleagues will succeed in developing and advancing the game. It is noteworthy that Al-Kandari had previously obtained membership in the International Football Federation for the Deaf, and before that he was a member of the Working Group of the Secretariat of the Arab Region in the International Federation of the Deaf.