Kuwaiti player kicks the ball during the team's final practice.

MYANMAR, Sept 2: The Kuwait Olympic soccer team launches its campaign in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers today, taking on host nation Myanmar at 12:30 PM at Thuwunna Stadium in the opening match of Group A.

Kuwait will face Afghanistan in the second round on September 6, before concluding the group stage against Japan on September 9. The 11 group winners, along with the four best runners-up, will advance to the finals set to take place in Saudi Arabia next year.

Coach Croatian Dario Bisic has named a 23-player squad, excluding Bader Al-Mutairi, Adel Al-Shammari, and Ali Hassan. The squad includes: Abdulrahman Ajaj, Hussein Konkoni, Dhari Al-Misri, Bandar Al-Barazi, Mohammed Al-Shuraifi, Nasser Al-Enezi, Saleh Al-Mutahib, Abdullah Faris, Muneer Al-Subaie, Jassim Al-Enezi, Mohammed Al-Suraii, Jassim Al-Matar, Montaser Abdulsalam, Omar Al-Saleem, Omar Al-Matar, Omar Al-Azmi, Abdullah Al-Ghanim, Jarrah Al-Hleili, Ahmed Boudi, Moath Al-Asima, Yousef Al-Shammari, Khaled Al-Kharqawi, and Saud Qassem.

The team’s preparations began on June 17 and included a training camp in Egypt from July 7 to 21, during which they played four friendly matches. Back in Kuwait, the squad played three friendlies, defeating Kazma 3-1, Al-Fahaheel 1-0, and Al-Yarmouk 3-0.

The final phase of preparation took place in Thailand, starting August 12, where Kuwait played three more friendlies, beating Nonthaburi (Thailand) 2-0, Malaysia 1-0, and drawing 1-1 with Oman.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff