
Final day drama in Zain First Division: Al-Jahra crowned, who takes second?
KUWAIT CITY, May 17: Al-Jahra will officially be crowned champions of the Zain First Division League tonight when they face Sulaibikhat at 7:10 PM in the 20th and final round of the season. Simultaneously, Burgan will take on Al-Sahel in a decisive match at Al-Shabab Stadium.
Al-Jahra secured the league title and promotion to the Zain Premier League after defeating Al-Sahel 2-0 last in Round 19, raising its tally to 25 points and making tonight's match a celebratory outing.
The battle for second place—and a potential promotion opportunity—remains intense. Al-Shabab, currently with 22 points, is not playing this round but will be watching closely. It needs Al-Jahra to either draw or defeat Sulaibikhat to maintain its second-place position.
Sulaibikhat, with 20 points, enters the match with a win-or-go-home mentality, knowing that only a victory will keep its hopes alive. Meanwhile, Burgan, on 19 points, is technically still in contention. A win combined with a Sulaibikhat loss or draw would see them finish level with Al-Shabab at 22 points—but Al-Shabab holds the edge in head-to-head results, giving it the tiebreaker advantage.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab Times
4 hours ago
- Arab Times
Al-Arabi part ways with Al-Shatti after 2 seasons, Al-Salmiya move imminent
KUWAIT CITY, June 28: Al-Arabi has officially announced the departure of national coach Nasser Al-Shatti and his entire coaching staff, including Maitham Al-Shatti, Saleh Mahdi, and Ali Boland. The decision comes after two seasons of collaboration, with recent negotiations over a contract extension reaching a deadlock. Despite holding several meetings over the past 10 days, the two sides failed to agree on key terms for a renewed deal. Under Al-Shatti's leadership—alongside his brother and assistant Maitham—Al-Arabi had a strong season, finishing second in both the Zain Premier League and the Crown Prince Cup. The team also reached the final of the Emir's Cup, which has been postponed due to the current situation. However, no titles were secured during his tenure. Al-Shatti is now a leading candidate to take over at Al-Salmiya for the 2025–2026 season. Sources indicate that the two parties have already agreed on most terms of the proposed contract, with an official announcement expected soon. This potential move comes as Al-Salmiya looks to end its contract with Croatian coach Ante Miša, who remains under contract until the end of next season. The club is reportedly seeking a mutual termination. Meanwhile, at Al-Qadsiya, efforts to reinforce the squad ahead of the 2025–2026 season are in full swing. Head coach Nabil Maaloul is currently reviewing several foreign players being offered by agents, with a strong focus on midfield and attacking reinforcements. Algerian midfielder Ghilas Guenaoui, born in 1998, has emerged as a top target. He previously played for ES Sétif in Algeria and Port Said in Egypt and is known for his versatility and playmaking ability. Guenaoui is the second Algerian player under consideration, alongside defender Ayoub Abdellaoui (32), who has experience with MC Alger, USM Alger, and Saudi Arabia's Al-Ettifaq. Additionally, former Tunisian international striker Haythem Jouini has been offered to the club. Al-Qadsiya is in rebuilding mode after parting ways with three foreign players: Moroccan Ismail Khafi, Nigerian Daniel Jibola, and Algerian Hussein Dahiri. The futures of Libyan winger Mohamed Soula and Moroccan midfielder Mehdi Berrahma—both still under contract—will be decided by Maaloul in the coming weeks. Preparations for the new season have already begun, with the squad set to begin training on the 16th of the month, followed by an overseas training camp. The Zain Premier League campaign kicks off on September 12. In a bid to strengthen its squad for the upcoming First Division season, Yarmouk Club has signed former Al-Salmiya player Othman Al-Dosari. The move comes as the club looks to bounce back after finishing last in the Zain Premier League.


Arab Times
4 hours ago
- Arab Times
Kuwaiti figure skating team concludes successful training camp in Bergamo
BERGAMO, Italy, June 28: The Kuwaiti Figure Skating Team has wrapped up its participation in the third Regional Development Camp held in Bergamo, Italy. Organized by the Egyptian Figure Skating Federation under the supervision of the International Skating Union (ISU), the camp was supported in full by the Kuwait Winter Games Club. The event brought together 36 athletes from the national teams of Egypt, Greece, South Africa, and the UAE. Representing Kuwait were four skaters: Lara Al-Barrak, Sama Jarrah, Najat Al-Turki, and Ghala Al-Matar. Speaking about the experience, Lara Al-Barrak described the camp as a valuable opportunity to enhance their skills in figure skating. She noted that the team trained for five hours daily and also attended technical lectures focusing on the fundamentals needed to excel in the sport. Al-Barrak highlighted the high quality of training at the ISU's Ice Lab Center of Excellence, attributing the strong performance levels to the presence of experienced Olympic coaches. She praised both the practical and theoretical depth of the camp. She also emphasized the importance of such international events in developing the technical capabilities of Kuwaiti athletes and preparing them to represent the national 'Blue Figure' team in future global competitions. Al-Barrak concluded by thanking the Kuwait Winter Games Club, led by Fahid Al-Ajmi, for its continued support in promoting figure skating among girls in Kuwait. She also commended the efforts of both the Egyptian and International Federations for organizing a successful international training event.


Arab Times
2 days ago
- Arab Times
Al-Qadsiya hopes to end drought as Kuwait Club aims for 12th straight title
KUWAIT CITY, June 26: The curtain falls on the 2024–2025 handball season tomorrow with the final match of the 57th Kuwait Handball Association Cup, taking place at Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex. The highly anticipated showdown will see defending champion Kuwait Club faces Al-Qadsiya in a battle for glory at 6:30 pm. The third-place match between Al-Salmiya and Kazma will precede the final at 5:00 pm. Kuwait Club, known as the Whites, enters the final with an unmatched record—11 consecutive Federation Cup titles and a tournament-leading 14 titles overall. They aim to extend their dominance and clinch a historic 12th straight championship, completing a domestic treble after securing both the Super Cup and the Premier League titles this season. On the other hand, Al-Qadsiya seeks to reclaim past glory. It last lifted the Association Cup in the 2012–2013 season, when it defeated Al-Qurain in the final, and currently holds seven titles. Al-Qadsiya's journey to the final has been one of resilience. After a difficult start in the merger league and subsequent relegation to the First Division, the club turned things around under Tunisian coach Amin Al-Qafsi, finishing top of the division. In the Federation Cup, they defeated Al-Fahaheel 33–24 in the preliminary round, and then edged Burgan 30–28 in the quarterfinals. Their semifinal victory came dramatically, beating Kazma 34–33. Kuwait Club, under the guidance of Algerian coach Saeed Hijazi, began their campaign directly in the quarterfinals as defending champions. They dispatched Al-Qurain 38–30, followed by a convincing 38–24 win over Al-Salmiya in the semifinals to reach yet another final. Kuwait Club Handball Director Sameh Al-Hajri confirmed the team is fully prepared for the final. 'The technical, administrative, and medical staff, along with the players, are all ready. We hope to win the title for the 12th straight season and continue to prove Kuwait Club's strength in handball,' he said. The squad is at full strength, except for Saif Al-Adwani, who is sidelined for a month with a partial ligament tear. Al-Hajri also commended the unwavering support from the club's Board of Directors, led by President Khaled Al-Ghanim, and praised the efforts of the technical staff despite a demanding season schedule. Since its inception, the Federation Cup has been held 56 times, with two exceptions during the 1980–1981 and 1990–1991 seasons. Kuwait Club tops the all-time winners list with 14 titles, followed by Al-Arabi (10), Kazma and Al-Salmiya (8 each), Al-Qadsiya (7), Khaitan (4), Fahaheel (3), and Sulaibikhat (2). As the final approaches, all eyes will be on whether Kuwait can extend their historic run, or if Al-Qadsiya can stage a long-awaited comeback to the top of Kuwaiti handball.