Al-Shuraim backs Kuwait to make a strong showing at the Gulf Cup 27

Ambassador Al-Shuraim with Kuwait national team delegation in Doha.

DOHA, Sept. 13: The Kuwait national team has switched to evening training at its Doha camp as preparations intensify for Gulf Cup 27 in Saudi Arabia.

The Blues have trained twice daily in recent days but will now hold one session a day before concluding their Doha camp tomorrow. The delegation will travel to Jeddah on Tuesday ahead of the tournament, which runs from September 23 to October 6.

Kuwait will face Yemen in a friendly on Friday in its final warm-up before the tournament. Drawn in Group A, Kuwait will open against hosts Saudi Arabia on September 23, face Iraq on September 26, and complete the group stage against Oman on September 29. Group B features Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar and Yemen.

Kuwait Ambassador to Qatar Ahmad Abdulrahman Naser Al Shuraimand and Chargé d’Affaires Ahmed Al-Haroun visited the team’s training session in Doha to check on preparations and the delegation’s requirements.

Al-Shuraim said Kuwait’s participation in Gulf competitions helps promote the country’s sporting achievements and highlights its rich sporting heritage.

He expressed confidence in the squad, saying Kuwait has talented players capable of producing positive results at the tournament. He also pointed to Kuwait’s record 10 Gulf Cup titles, which underline the country’s historic standing in the competition.

Kuwait Football Association Vice President for Technical Affairs Ayman Al-Hussaini thanked Al-Shuraim for his support and efforts to meet the delegation’s needs during the camp. He also praised the Kuwaiti Embassy in Qatar for its continued cooperation in facilitating the team’s preparations.

Yemen, coached by Algerian Noureddine Ould Ali, was the first participating team to arrive in Jeddah, reaching the Saudi city on Friday.

Yemen is in Group B alongside Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain, with the coaching staff working to raise the players’ fitness and readiness ahead of the tournament.

The other participating teams are expected to arrive in Jeddah over the coming days to complete their final preparations before the competition begins.

Oman coach Tarik Sektioui is expected to announce his squad today or tomorrow, with the team scheduled to travel to Jeddah on Thursday.

Sektioui will be the 18th coach to lead Oman in Gulf Cup history and the fourth Arab coach to take charge of the team in the tournament, following Egypt’s Mamdouh Khafagy at Gulf Cups 3 and 4, Tunisia’s Moncef Melliti at Gulf Cup 6, and Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary at Gulf Cup 13.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff