Players fight for the ball

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 8: The eighth round of the Zain Premier League concludes this evening, with Al-Arabi visiting Al-Nasr at 5:25 PM at Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium, while the round’s marquee clash features Kuwait against Kazma at 7:40 PM at Al-Sadaqa wal-Salam Stadium.

League leader Kuwait Club (16 points) is aiming for its sixth victory of the season to strengthen its hold on the top spot. The “White” team comes off a hard-fought 1-0 win over Al-Nasr in the previous round and is keen to maintain momentum during a period of solid technical stability.

Kazma (third place, 11 points), meanwhile, is looking to bounce back after a 1-1 draw with Al-Fahaheel in the last round and hopes to deliver Kuwait’s first league defeat of the season.

In the other headline match, Al-Arabi (second place, 14 points) aims to capitalize on a morale-boosting 4-0 win over Al-Jahra in the previous round as it continues its challenge for the league lead. Al-Nasr, currently bottom of the table with zero points, seeks its first victory or at least its first point of the season.

The Football Association has scheduled two postponed sixth-round matches for December 28: Al-Tadhamon vs. Al-Arabi at Al-Awal Stadium and Kuwait Club vs. Al-Fahaheel at Sabah Al-Salem Stadium. These matches were delayed due to Kuwait Club and Al-Arabi’s participation in the Asian Challenge League at the end of October.

Al-Fahaheel moved up the table after defeating Al-Salmiya 2-1 at Thamer Stadium, opening the eighth round. The win takes Al-Fahaheel to 10 points, sixth place, while Al-Salmiya remains on 11 points.

Meanwhile, Al-Tadhamon and Al-Shabab played out a 1-1 draw at Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium, lifting Al-Shabab to 10 points and Al-Tadhamon to 5 points.

The league will pause after this round until mid-December due to FIFA international match dates and the Arab Cup, set to take place in Doha, Qatar, from early December until the 18th.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff