Kuwait Club and Nasr eye top spot as Zain Premier League resumes

Players vie for the ball during a league match.

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 8: The Zain Premier League returns to action tonight following a break of more than 30 days for the Gulf Cup 27, which concluded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, last Tuesday.

The fourth round gets underway with two matches. Nasr hosts Kuwait Club at Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium at 5:50 p.m., before Kazma welcomes Al-Arabi at 8:05 p.m.

The round continues on Saturday, with Tadamon hosting Qadsia at 5:50 p.m. and Salmiya taking on Shabab at Thamer Stadium at 8:05 p.m.

Sunday’s fixtures will see Sahel face Fahaheel at Shabab Stadium, while Sulaibikhat hosts Jahra at Naif Al-Dabbous Stadium.

Kazma and Kuwait Club currently share the lead with seven points, followed by Qadsia, Nasr, and Salmiya on six points. Shabab and Sahel have four points each; Fahaheel and Jahra have three, while Al-Arabi and Sulaibikhat have two. Tadamon remain bottom without a point.

Kuwait Club is targeting a third win of the campaign and a return to outright top spot, but faces a determined Nasr side that won its opening two games before falling to Qadsia in the third round.

Kazma’s clash with Al-Arabi is arguably the round’s standout fixture, with the teams entering the match in contrasting form.

Kazma has made a strong start, recording two wins and a draw from its first three games. Al-Arabi, meanwhile, has struggled, drawing 1-1 with Kuwait Club and 3-3 with Sulaibikhat before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Jahra.

The “Green” used the league break to regroup, holding a training camp in the UAE and reshaping its foreign contingent. The club signed Algerian Badr Eddine Souyad and Dutch player Walid Ould Cheikh, replacing Senegalese Joher Rasul and Brazilian Leonardo Sheldon.

Al-Arabi will hope the changes can help it regain its form when it faces Kazma tonight.

Qadsia will seek to build on its positive start by claiming a third victory, with the team also preparing to host its AFC Challenge League group stage from Oct. 17.

Tadamon, meanwhile, will be aiming to open its points account after losing its first three matches.

Salmiya will look to maintain its challenge near the top of the table with another victory, but Shabab will provide a tough test after producing encouraging performances in the opening rounds.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff