Kuwait Club faces easy test as Arabi and Kazma set for tough clash

A file photo of players fighting for the ball.

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 10: The Kuwait Handball League Premier Division continues today with two fixtures: Kuwait Club takes on Al-Nasr, and Arabi meets Kazma in the round's standout clash.

Salmiya is also scheduled to face Sulaibikhat, while Qadsia is due to play Burgan, according to the league schedule.

However, Qadsia and Salmiya are expected to remain absent after both clubs announced the dissolution of their senior handball teams and withdrew from the previous round. Another withdrawal would be the second for each club, and a third would remove them from the league standings under competition regulations.

The Premier Division resumed last Wednesday after being suspended in early March amid regional developments in the Gulf, with efforts now focused on completing the season and resuming domestic competition.

Kuwait Club will aim to extend its winning run and collect another two points when it faces Al-Nasr. The Whites are favorites, given their experience and stronger squad. They enter the match after a convincing win over Burgan, while Al-Nasr will look to bounce back from their defeat to Kazma and deliver a better performance.

The other fixture between Arabi and Kazma is expected to be closely contested, with both teams targeting a top-three finish. Kazma heads into the encounter on the back of a win in the previous round, while Arabi will make its first appearance since the league resumed after missing the last round.

Arabi, coached by national coach Hussein Habib, will be eager to make a strong start and prove it can challenge the leading teams. The coaching staff will also look to capitalize on several local signings made during the summer break to strengthen the squad.

Meanwhile, Kuwait Club has turned its attention to the Gulf Club Championship, scheduled for November in Bahrain, and plans to hold an overseas training camp in Cairo as part of its preparations.

Kuwait Club has bolstered its squad by signing Egyptian pivot Mahmoud Abdelaziz, a former Valladolid player. He will join Bahraini Mohammed Habib and Montenegrin Vladan Ljubova, while the club also plans to enlist Japanese player Yasuhiro of Burgan for the Gulf tournament.

The reinforcements reflect Kuwait Club’s ambition to compete strongly and challenge for the regional title.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff