Qadsia, Al-Arabi renew rivalry in crucial seventh-round derby

Dhari bids farewell to football today in the Qadsia-Al-Arabi clash.

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 31: Qadsia welcomes arch-rivals Al-Arabi at 8:00 pm today at Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium in the standout fixture of the seventh round of the Zain Premier League.

The round also features an earlier clash between Jahra (4 points) and Fahaheel (9 points), scheduled for 5:30 pm at Mubarak Al-Ayar Stadium.

The two traditional rivals enter the derby on different trajectories, with Qadsia enjoying a stronger run of form. The Yellow Castle sits third with 12 points, four behind leader Kuwait Club and two adrift of second-placed Kazma. However, Qadsia has a game in hand, with its postponed fifth-round meeting against Sahel set for December 17.

Qadsia has also impressed in the AFC Challenge League, winning all its group matches to finish top and book a place in the quarterfinals.

Al-Arabi, on the other hand, finally got its campaign back on track last round with a victory over Fahaheel, its first league win after three draws and a defeat. The result lifted its tally to six points and eased its position near the bottom of the table. The Green Castle also has a postponed fixture against Salmiya from the fifth round, scheduled for December 17.

Its continental campaign, however, proved disappointing, as Al-Arabi finished bottom of its  AFC Challenge League group without a point after losing all three matches.

The poor results prompted the dismissal of Croatian coach Goran Sablic. National coach Mohamed Abdelnabi subsequently took charge on an interim basis before Bosnian coach Darko Nestorovic was appointed and led the team to victory over Fahaheel.

Nevertheless, the derby is a different proposition, with previous form and league positions often counting for little in such encounters. Both sides will need to be mentally sharp and physically prepared to secure a valuable victory.

The derby will also provide the setting for the retirement of former Qadsia and Kuwait international Dhari Saeed.

Born in 1987, Saeed began his career with Qadsia in 2007, winning more than 30 titles with the club. He represented Kuwait's national team from 2012 to 2019, making 18 international appearances.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff