Kuwait volleyball season set for September restart after long suspension

In this file photo, two Al Arabi platers block a shot from an opponent during a league match.

KUWAIT CITY, May 23: The Kuwait Volleyball Association is preparing to restructure the current season schedule following the lengthy suspension caused by recent regional developments, with plans to resume and complete the league championship in September.

The federation hopes to conclude the domestic season before the Kuwait national team begins preparations for upcoming international commitments, including the Arab Championship, which is expected to take place in either Jordan or Egypt.

League action has been halted since February 28, leading the federation to explore several options for restarting competitions while balancing the national team’s preparation program and allowing clubs sufficient time to restore players’ match fitness.

The dates for the Federation Cup and Super Cup competitions have not yet been finalized. Federation officials are expected to determine both tournaments after approving the revised league calendar to fit around local and international schedules.

For youth competitions, the federation decided to rely on preliminary league standings to crown champions in various age categories because of time limitations and the difficulty of completing the remaining fixtures. In the youth division, standings at the end of the second round will officially determine the final rankings, while the youth cup competition for the current season has been canceled.

The federation’s board is expected to hold a meeting today or tomorrow at Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex to officially approve the proposed recommendations, although minor amendments could still be made before the final announcement.

Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 campaign, the federation has tentatively targeted late October or early November as the starting date for the new season in an effort to restore the traditional local competition calendar.

Meanwhile, the federation has received approval from the International Volleyball Federation to open registration for foreign professional players starting in early August, giving clubs an early opportunity to strengthen their squads for next season.

The federation is also considering a proposal that would allow clubs to register foreign professionals throughout the entire season, similar to several Gulf federations. The proposal includes financial regulations and registration fees that would increase if clubs sign more than one foreign player, aiming to balance club support with maintaining the technical stability of the competition.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff