Qadsia players sharpen their touch with ball-juggling drills in training.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 29: Qadsia will look to make a strong start in the Gulf Champions League when it faces Iraq’s Zakho tonight at 8:00 PM at Zakho International Stadium in the opening round of Group One. The group also features the UAE’s Al Ain against Bahrain’s Sitra at 7:30 PM at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.

The team completed preparations for the opener in high spirits, though first matches are often tricky—especially in a competition where only the top two teams advance to the semifinals.

Qadsia will be without several key players through injury, including Eid Al-Rashidi, Mubarak Al-Fanini, Moaz Al-Dhafiri, and Talal Al-Fadhel. The participation of Algerian midfielder Victor Lekhal is also uncertain. However, Coach Nabil Maaloul is expected to rely on seasoned stars such as Bader Al-Mutawa, Egypt’s Mahmoud Kahraba, Libya’s Mohamed Soula, and Congo’s Neeskens Kebano, alongside a core of talented youngsters.

The team is eager to bounce back after its recent domestic league loss to Kuwait SC, while Zakho will look to take advantage of home support to turn around its poor form in the Iraqi league, where it sits 13th after losing to Diyala in its last outing.

In the domestic Zain Premier League, Salmiya claimed its third straight victory with a 2-0 win over Jahra in the final match of the fourth round at Thamer Stadium.

Moaz Al-Oseimah opened the scoring in the 11th minute, before Mohannad Al-Mohameed doubled the lead just before halftime (45+2). The result lifted Salmiya to second place on nine points, while Jahra remained ninth with just a single point.

Elsewhere, Tadamon edged Naser 1-0 at Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium thanks to a 55th-minute header from Fahad Al-Rashidi. Tadamon moved up to seventh with four points, while Naser stayed at the bottom of the standings without a point.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff