Maqsid: Kuwait must rebuild with young talent after World Cup qualification failure
The team finished last in their group, trailing behind sides like Palestine, whose football has been disrupted by war since October 2023, and Oman, a team Kuwait hasn't beaten in more than 25 years.
Former national team coach Jawad Maqsid attributes Kuwait's decline to the lack of local talent and weak domestic performances. 'The league lacks quality, and most local clubs no longer produce talented players. They rely instead on ready-made options,' Maqsid stated.
He added, 'There's a clear absence of promising Kuwaiti players. Is it possible that a country like Kuwait has no footballing talent? The last standout was Bader Al-Mutawa. Since then, no player has emerged to captivate the fans.'
Maqsid stressed the urgent need for the Kuwait Football Association to invest in youth development, with structured plans and programs that prioritize age-group competitions.
Maqsid suggested a complete overhaul of the national team: 'All current players should be released, and a foreign coach with knowledge of Gulf football should be appointed, along with two Kuwaiti assistants.' He emphasized that this new technical staff must have full authority to select players without interference.
He also pointed out that local players have not significantly benefited from the presence of foreign professionals, citing their average skill levels. 'Relying on aging players has become part of the problem—youth must now be the focus.'
In the wake of the team's failure, the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) issued an apology to fans, expressing deep regret over the national team's early elimination from the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The association acknowledged the previous board's decision to appoint the current coaching staff and explained that the current administration chose not to disrupt the team during the qualifiers, particularly due to the high cost of terminating head coach Juan Pizzi's contract, estimated at over one million dollars.
Nevertheless, the KFA stressed that reforms will not be delayed. Plans are in motion to prepare the team more effectively and professionally for upcoming competitions.
The KFA has already begun reviewing the résumés of several foreign coaches as it looks to replace Argentine Juan Pizzi. The objective is to rebuild the squad ahead of the crucial playoff match against Mauritania in late November—a qualifier for the Arab Cup, scheduled to be held in Doha in December.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Kuwait Times
Del Castillo and Spain ‘full of hope' ahead of Euro 2025 semi
LAUSANNE: From being a bit-part player in the team that won the Women's World Cup two years ago, Athenea del Castillo has performed a key role in Spain's run to the semi-finals of Euro 2025, in which they will face Germany on Wednesday. The Real Madrid attacker, 24, was brought into Spain's starting line-up for their last group game against Italy and scored an early equalizer before her team went on to win 3-1. She was then relegated back to the bench for the last-eight tie against hosts Switzerland in Bern but the game changed after her introduction as a substitute just past the hour mark. Del Castillo replaced Mariona Caldentey and broke the deadlock four minutes later, setting Spain up for a 2-0 victory - and surely giving coach Montse Tome a selection headache for the clash with Germany in Zurich. 'I have to just focus on the things that I can influence. Luckily I am managing to help the team whatever my role is, whether I am starting or not,' Del Castillo told AFP at the Spanish team's base in Lausanne. A win for Spain against Germany will keep them on track to add a first ever European crown to the World Cup they won in 2023, when they defeated England in the final. 'We are full of hope, we are so excited. We dream of being European champions but to do that we need to win on Wednesday so all our energy is going into that game,' Del Castillo said. 'We know all about the potential in the Germany team. They are a great side who have been European champions eight times after all.' Spain still lean heavily on the players who won them the World Cup, notably Ballon d'Or Aitana Bonmati as well as her fellow Barcelona stars Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes. But Del Castillo, while not yet a guaranteed starter, has become a more important player than during that tournament in Australia and New Zealand. Then, under previous coach Jorge Vilda, she started the team's first match before gradually disappearing from circulation. She then featured in the side that participated in the 2024 Olympics and lost to Germany in the bronze medal match - a defeat they will seek to avenge on Wednesday. Infectious 'We have been through so much together and that has helped us mature as a team,' she said on the margins of a training session by Lake Geneva. 'I still see myself as one of the youngsters even though there are players much younger than me like Vicky (Lopez) and Maite (Zubieta), and then there are older players like Irene and Alexia who have been around longer and been to so many more tournaments. We have that mix of youth and experience, of joy but also maturity.' Del Castillo is known for her glowing smile and infectious personality, and she has no intention of changing even as she becomes more and more recognizable thanks to her exploits with Spain and Real. 'I have not changed much. I still do the same things, I still try to enjoy life and luckily everything is going well at home, with my family and friends,' said the native of Cantabria in northern Spain. 'I am very happy in Madrid -- I prefer the north but I like Madrid as a city. I love to go out for a wander, listen to music, be with my family. If I changed what I did off the pitch that would also change me on it and I don't like that because then I would lose my essence.' Despite still being at a relatively tender age, the player who idolized Cristiano Ronaldo growing up now has over 60 caps and is conscious of being a leader in the Spain squad. 'I know how to differentiate between moments when you have to work and times when you can give a little bit of joy,' she said, before suggesting that the side has improved since losing to Germany at last year's Olympics. 'I think we have matured a lot since then. We are better at controlling games in different moments now. I think that will help us, but it will above all be about staying calm and focusing on our objective.' – AFP
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait faces a tough test against Bahrain at the West Asia Volleyball Championship
MANAMA, July 22: The Kuwait national volleyball team is set for a tough showdown against host and title favorite Bahrain at 7:00 pm tonight in the quarterfinals of the inaugural West Asia Volleyball Championship, currently taking place at Isa bin Rashid Hall in Bahrain and running through July 27. The quarterfinal action also features Saudi Arabia vs. Jordan at 1:00 pm, the UAE vs. Oman at 3:00 pm, and Qatar vs. Lebanon at 5:00 pm. Kuwait heads into the knockout stage after suffering its second tournament loss—a close 3-2 defeat to Qatar in the final match of Group B. That round also saw Saudi Arabia secure a 3-0 victory over Oman. Qatar topped the group with 8 points, followed by Saudi Arabia with 4 points. Oman took third with 3 points, edging out Kuwait—who also had 3 points—based on set difference. Despite the loss, Kuwait, under Argentine coach Julián Álvarez, showed flashes of brilliance against a strong Qatari side. After a slow start and a heavy 25-12 loss in the first set, Kuwait bounced back to take the second 25-23. Qatar regained control in the third set, winning 25-17, but Kuwait refused to back down and leveled the match with a 25-22 fourth set win. In the decisive fifth set, Qatar prevailed 15-11. While Kuwait faces an uphill battle against a confident Bahraini team playing on home soil and in front of its fans, the Blue team has proven it can rise to the occasion. A strong performance from Kuwait's key players could very well lead to a surprise result in tonight's highly anticipated clash.
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait participates in the World Billiards Championship in Jeddah
JEDDAH, July 22: The 2025 World Billiards Championship officially kicked off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, marking the city's second consecutive year hosting the prestigious event. The tournament features 128 players from over 40 countries—including Kuwait—vying for the title. Representing Kuwait are Bader Al-Awadhi, currently ranked seventh in the world, and Abdullah Al-Enezi, the top-ranked player in Kuwait. Additionally, Kuwait's Ahmed Al-Tatan and Mohammed Al-Hussainan are competing in the junior championship held alongside the main event. Al-Awadhi shared that his preparation for the championship has been rigorous, highlighted by an intensive training camp in Indonesia. He noted the tournament's high level of competition, given the participation of elite international players. 'I aim to achieve a result that reflects positively on Kuwait and demonstrates the progress we've made in the sport,' Al-Awadhi stated. He also expressed confidence in his ability to compete at the highest level, underscoring the professionalism and talent Kuwaiti players bring to the global stage.
