A file photo of the players celebrating.

QATAR, Dec 4: The Kuwait Olympic team launches its Gulf U-23 Championship campaign today at 2:45 p.m., taking on host nation Qatar at Aspire Zone 2 Stadium. In the same group, Saudi Arabia will meet Bahrain at 3:00 p.m. at Aspire Zone 1.

Kuwait will aim for a strong start, although the challenge will be tough against a Qatari side backed by home support.

The team prepared thoroughly for the tournament, beginning training in Kuwait before holding a foreign training camp in Dubai, where they played two friendlies — beating Dubai City 1-0 before falling 0-1 to Al-Nasr.

Head coach Ferdo Milin hopes his young squad can make an impact and progress far in the competition. The team is the youngest among all participants, featuring players born in 2005–2006, as part of a long-term plan to prepare this generation for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers and ultimately the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Qatar, meanwhile, enters the tournament with ambitions of winning the inaugural title. At the same time, the Gulf Cup Football Federation sees the competition as an opportunity to spotlight emerging talents for the region’s future.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff