Sabljić takes charge at Al Arabi as Kuwait Club lands Vinicius

Croatian Goran Sabljić

KUWAIT CITY, July 18: Al Arabi has appointed Croatian Goran Sabljić as head coach of its first soccer team, replacing Nasser Al-Shatti.

The 47-year-old has previously managed clubs in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Moldova, with the Al Arabi job marking his first coaching experience in the Gulf.

The club also announced its coaching staff, which includes assistants Goran Grubka and Mohamed Abdelnaby, goalkeeping coach Nikša Putra, fitness coach Khalil Jebabli, and performance analyst Mahfouz Jannad.

Al Arabi also confirmed its administrative team, headed by Bader Ashour as chairman, with Abdullah Al-Hairi as vice-chairman, Essa Ashkanani as team manager, Ahmed Abdulghafour as administrator, Abdulrahman Ibrahim as security coordinator, and Jassim Al-Awad as media coordinator.

Sabljić is expected to link up with the squad at its pre-season training camp in Turkey within the next two days after the camp got underway on Friday.

Meanwhile, reports in Jordan said Saad Al-Rousan, the Al Hussein Irbid defender, has received two transfer offers, including one from Al Arabi.

Elsewhere, Kuwait Club strengthened its midfield by signing Brazilian Carlinhos Vinicius, 32, on a free transfer on a one-year deal.

Vinicius arrives after spending last season with UAE club Dibba Al-Hisn and replaces Ivorian Idrissa Doumbia, whose contract expired at the end of the previous campaign.

Al Qadsia, meanwhile, completed the signing of Bader Jamal from Al Salmiya. Bahraini media also reported that the club is interested in bringing back former Al Arabi midfielder Kamil Al Aswad, while separate reports claimed Al Qadsia has opened talks with Moroccan defender Mohamed Saud, 30, of Ittihad Tanger.

The Yellow side begins pre-season training on Sunday as preparations for the new season gather pace.

Al Salmiya announced the return of Mubarak Al-Fanaini after his three-year spell with Al Qadsia and also renewed the contracts of Nayef Zwaid, Ahmed Boumaryoum, Omar Ali, Essa Waleed, Abdulmohsen Al-Turkumani, Ahmed Eidan, and goalkeeper Yousef Al-Kandari.

Kazma added Senegalese forward Amath Ndao to its squad and extended the contract of Algerian Idris Chaabi, while opting not to renew the deal of Sudanese player Amer Abdullah.

Al Nasr is also close to securing the services of Mauritanian midfielder Sidi Yacoub, with negotiations between the two sides understood to be in their final phase.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff