Challon joins Al-Arabi’s foreign contingent as Al-Shatti nears Al-Khaldiya move

Sporty Club president Ahmed Medath and officials pose with Abdullah Bahman during the presentation.

KUWAIT CITY, July 13: Al-Arabi has added Brazilian midfielder Lucas Challon as their third foreign signing ahead of the new season, with the player joining Nigerian Anayo Iwuala and Ethiopian Kenan Maleko as part of the club’s squad reinforcement plans.

Challon spent last season with Al-Sulaibikhat before making the move to the Green Castle.

The club’s management continues to assess several foreign player options after ending its association with Bahrain international Kamil Al-Aswad and Moroccan defender Nabil Marmouk, while the future of Palestinian player Zaid Qanbar remains undecided.

Al-Arabi has also strengthened their local squad by signing Talal Al-Qaisi from Kazma and Ali Al-Doukhi, who previously featured for Al-Shabab and Al-Fahaheel.

The team is also preparing for its upcoming continental assignment on August 12, when it hosts India’s East Bengal in the AFC Champions League Two playoff round.

Meanwhile, Al-Arabi coach Nasser Al-Shatti is reportedly close to taking over at Bahrain’s Al-Khaldiya, with talks between the two parties nearing completion despite his current contract with Al-Arabi running until June 2028.

Elsewhere, First Division side Sporty has signed actor Abdullah Bahman, who will join the team as a goalkeeper. Bahman completed the move in the presence of club president Ahmed Mudaath.

Sporty currently occupies the bottom position in the First Division League, which resumes on July 25.

Al-Fahaheel has finalized its foreign player roster ahead of the new season after signing Cape Verde striker Alvin Fortes and extending the contracts of Brazilian duo Vitor Vieira and Carlos Bruno.

The club had previously secured the services of Ethiopian international Gatos Banom and South African forward Ranga Chivaviro, 33, while also adding goalkeeper Ali Fadel, defenders Mohammed Al-Farsi and Abdulaziz Naji, and striker Hamad Al-Taweel.

Al-Fahaheel also appointed Slovak coach Martin Sevela as the successor to Syrian coach Firas Al-Khatib. Sevela previously managed Saudi clubs Al-Adalah, Al-Okhdood and Abha.

In other transfer news, Al-Shabab signed former Kuwait internationals Omar Al-Habaiter and Rashid Al-Mutairi, along with Yousef Najaf and Mohammed Al-Qahtani.

The club also renewed the contracts of Ali Mustafa, Mohammed Khalil, goalkeeper Jassim Al-Awadhi, Shaheen Al-Khamis, Hussein Al-Harbi and Yaqoub Al-Tararwah.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff