Ashour: Al-Salmiya targeting every domestic title

Ashour addresses Al-Salmiya players ahead of training.

KUWAIT CITY, July 23: Al-Salmiya head coach Ali Ashour says his side is determined to challenge for all domestic honours as preparations gather pace for the new football season.

Ashour said the club's ambition is to return to the winners' circle by delivering consistent performances across every competition. He added that pre-season training has begun with a strong turnout of players, while the remaining foreign professionals are expected to join the squad shortly.

Al-Salmiya has already secured the services of Uzbek Shahzod Azmiddinov and Bahraini Abdullah Yousif. Brazilian Alex Lima is expected to continue with the club, while a decision is still pending on the future of Syrian defender Mahmoud Al-Aswad. The club has, however, confirmed the departures of Syrian Amro Midani and Bahraini Sayed Diaa.

The Bahraini coach revealed that some players are undergoing double training sessions to regain full fitness after the extended break in domestic competitions.

As part of its preparations, Al-Salmiya will travel to Izmit, Turkey, for a pre-season training camp, where they are scheduled to play four friendly matches ahead of the new campaign.

Meanwhile, Kuwait Club departs for London today to begin its overseas training camp, which will feature several warm-up matches as the club prepares for the season.

The reigning Kuwait Premier League champion is aiming to fine-tune the squad ahead of its domestic title defence while also gearing up for its AFC Champions League Two campaign.

Elsewhere, Al-Nasr will hold its pre-season camp in Cairo from Aug. 1 to Aug. 20, with friendly matches lined up against Libya's Al Ahli Tripoli, Egypt's ZED FC, and Saudi club Al-Nejmeh.

Head coach Dhaher Al-Adwani is looking to raise the team's fitness levels and ensure the squad is fully prepared before the Kuwait Premier League season gets underway on Aug. 25.

Tunisian Hazem Haj, Malian Moriba Diarra, and Sudanese Abdulrahman Koko have already joined Al-Nasr's training sessions, while Algerian Aymen Lakjaa and Mauritanian Sidi Yacoub are expected to link up with the team during the Cairo camp.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff