Congolese international defender Henock Baka.

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 4: Kuwait Club has officially completed its five-player foreign quota with the signing of Congolese international defender Henock Baka, adding strength and versatility to its backline ahead of the new season.

Baka joins an impressive group of international recruits that includes Mohamed Marhoon (Bahrain), Arsen "Malik" Zola (Congo), Yassine Khenissi (Tunisia), and Sam Morsy, the English midfielder of Egyptian descent.

Born in 1993, Baka began his professional career with Renaissance FC in Congo in 2016. He later joined Daring Club Motema Pembe in 2018, where he spent three seasons. In 2021, he moved to Tanzanian powerhouse Simba SC, staying until 2024 before signing briefly with Al-Jaish of Jordan. Last year, he reportedly received an offer from French side FC Metz, but the deal fell through.

Capable of playing both as a central defender and a left winger, Baka is expected to form a formidable defensive partnership with his compatriot Zola, adding depth and flexibility to coach Nebojša Jovović’s tactical plans.

Kuwait Club, reigning champion of the Zain Premier League, continues its preseason training under Jovović’s supervision. The team is holding two daily sessions: morning workouts at the club’s indoor sports complex and evening drills at Kuwait Stadium, all in preparation for a busy season that officially kicks off on September 12.

The club will begin its league campaign against Al-Tadamon, and will also defend its titles in the Crown Prince Cup and the Kuwait Super Cup.

The team's current preparations will culminate in a 20-day external training camp in Prague, Czech Republic, scheduled for next week. The camp will include four friendly matches, offering the squad valuable match fitness and cohesion ahead of competitive fixtures.

Kuwait Club has made squad stability a key priority this offseason. The club successfully renewed contracts with key foreign players Marhoon, Khenissi, and Zola, and also extended deals with standout local talents including Faisal Zayed, Ahmed Al-Dhafiri, Mohammad Farih, Redha Hani, Saud Al-Houshan, and Mohsen Fallah—the latter now loaned to Al-Nasr.

To further solidify its defense, the club secured the signing of veteran goalkeeper Khalid Al-Rashidi, who brings vast experience from stints with Qadsia, Al-Arabi, and Al-Salmiya, as well as recent appearances with the Kuwait national team.

With a strong squad and an experienced coaching staff, Kuwait SC appears well-positioned to launch a serious defense of its domestic titles and continue its legacy of success.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff