KUWAIT CITY, May 28: Kuwait Club President Khaled Al-Ghanim announced that Al-Abyad has signed Argentine player Sergio Vitor, formerly of Al-Qadisiya, to bolster its squad starting next season. Vitor had an outstanding season with Al-Qadisiya, establishing himself as one of the top foreign players.

Al-Ghanim also stated that the club wants Tunisian coach Nabil Maaloul to remain head of the technical staff next season. Maaloul has given initial approval and is awaiting the official contract. Regarding the current foreign players, Al-Ghanim mentioned that he will meet with coach Maaloul and the vice president of the apparatus, Adel Oqla, to discuss plans and preparations for the next season.

The club president also revealed that Al-Abyad has renewed contracts with five local players: Youssef Nasser, Meshari Ghannam, Sami Al-Sanea, Fahd Hammoud, and Mohamed Freih. Al-Ghanim expressed his joy at winning the league title for the third consecutive season, saying, "I am fortunate to be the president of this esteemed club. I am proud of all the players, administrators, and officials whose efforts have placed us at the top. I hope the team continues to win titles in the future.

"He praised the federation’s organization of local championships, which fostered clear competition, and emphasized that developing sports is "a state project."

Team captain Fahd Al-Hajri attributed its success to the hard work of various departments and the players' determination to win titles every season. He said, "We are fortunate to have a Board of Directors committed to creating an atmosphere conducive to winning."

Bahraini professional Mohammed Marhoon expressed his desire to continue with Kuwait Club for a third season, describing his experience as successful. He credited the players, technical, administrative, and medical staff, as well as the Board's support, for their achievements.

Player Ali Hussein described the club's nineteenth league title as the result of tireless efforts throughout the season, highlighting the difficulty of the matches. He stressed that Al-Abyad's consistent performance from the start of the tournament contributed to winning the coveted title.

Hassan Musa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff