Hussein Habib

KUWAIT CITY, July 14: The 2024–2025 handball season marked a notable rise in the presence and performance of Kuwaiti national coaches across local and international competitions. Their growing impact reflects not only a positive shift in coaching development but also the success of homegrown talent in achieving competitive and honorable results.

Among the standout figures this season is Hussein Habib, head coach of Burgan’s first-handball team. Taking over from Algerian coach Said Hijazi at the beginning of the season, Habib made an immediate impact, strengthening team cohesion and dramatically improving performance.

Under his leadership, Burgan achieved a historic runner-up finish in the Premier League, securing a spot in the upcoming Asian Club Championship for the first time in the club’s history. Habib’s close relationship with the players and the full backing of the club's management were key factors in this breakthrough.

Habib’s coaching journey includes a successful stint with Al-Arabi in 2014, where he led the team to promotion to the Premier League. He later served as assistant coach at Al-Qadsiya in 2019, before coaching Sulaibikhat in 2022. In 2023, he returned to Al-Qadsiya as head coach, leading them in the AFC Club Championship, and then joined Burgan in 2024. He recently renewed his contract with Burgan for another season.

Reflecting on the season, Habib said:

“Our target was to reach the podium and qualify for the Asian Club Championship. With the support of the management and dedication from the players and staff, we achieved that goal.”

He credited the signings of Yasuhira and Stipe Mandalinich for playing a crucial role in securing second place five rounds before the end of the league.

Habib outlined several objectives, including maximizing the participation of local players in league matches, developing talent for the national team, and competing in the Asian Cup.

He highlighted the season’s major positives, such as:

A historic runner-up finish

Won every team except Kuwait Club

A fast-paced attacking style

A season completed without major injuries

Among the challenges, he noted:

A lack of depth at the right-back position

A mental dip after securing second place

Physical fatigue and underperformance in the Federation Cup are due to the absence of strong alternatives.

Another national coach who found success this season is Yaqoub Al-Moussawi, head coach of Al-Salmiya’s handball team. Under his leadership, the Sky Blues achieved:

Runner-up at the 39th Arab Club Championship

Third place in the Super Cup

Third place in the 2023–2024 Federation Cup

Third place in the 2024–2025 Cup

Secured Premier League status for next season

Al-Moussawi began his coaching career as an assistant with Al-Salmiya in 2019–2020, before taking over as head coach in the 2022–2023 season, where he immediately led the team to a runner-up finish in the Cup.

He also voiced concern about the decision to allow three professional players per team, criticizing the rule as unbalanced given the lack of financial rewards in the league and the limited resources of clubs to attract multiple foreign players.

Also earning praise is Waleed Salmeen, who led Sulaibikhat to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, ensuring their participation in the top tier next season. His steady guidance helped the team retain its league status despite stiff competition.

The upcoming season will feature eight teams, including league champions Al-Qadsiya and newly promoted sides from the First Division, promising an even more competitive landscape for Kuwait handball.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff