Qadsia, Salmiya step up preparations for league return

Bader Mutawa dribbles the ball as an opponent defends.

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 3: Qadsia and Salmiya will meet in a friendly at 6:15 pm Sunday at Thamer Stadium as both sides prepare for the Zain Premier League.

Qadsia faces Tadamon on Saturday in the fourth round, while Salmiya takes on Shabab on the same day.

Qadsia is third on six points, one behind joint leaders Kuwait Club and Kazma. Salmiya is fifth, also with six points.

The Yellow team warmed up for its upcoming AFC Challenge League campaign with a 3-2 victory over English club Salisbury at Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium last week.

Qadsia will host Group C of the AFC Challenge League from October 17 to 23, with India’s Goa, Bangladesh’s Fortis and Tajikistan’s Regar-TadAZ completing the group.

Al-Arabi returned after a 10-day training camp in the UAE, where it played several friendlies.

The team will resume its league campaign against Kazma at Thamer Stadium next Friday before travelling to Tajikistan for the AFC Challenge League group stage.

The group also features Al-Najma of Lebanon, Syria’s Homs Al-Fida, and host Istiklol of Tajikistan, with the matches scheduled to begin on October 17.

Meanwhile, Kazma defeated Al-Jazeera 5-1 in a friendly as the Orange prepares for its meeting with Al-Arabi. Al-Jazeera used the game to prepare for the start of the Zain First Division League next Thursday.

Al-Sahel also returned after completing a training camp in Cairo, where it played three friendlies.

Seventh-placed Al-Sahel, who has four points, will face Al-Fahaheel next Sunday in the fifth round.

The Kuwait Football Association has meanwhile released the schedule for rounds four through eight. The league will then take a break from November 8 to 18 for the FIFA international window.

The fifth-round matches between Qadsia and Al-Sahel and between Al-Arabi and Salmiya will be postponed because Qadsia and Al-Arabi will be involved in the AFC Challenge League.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff