Latest news with #57thKuwaitHandballAssociationCup
Arab Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- 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.
Arab Times
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Qurain to face Kuwait Club in Handball Cup quarterfinals
KUWAIT CITY, June 19: The first round of the quarterfinals in the 57th Kuwait Handball Association Cup will take place tomorrow at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex. Reigning champion Kuwait Club, which has held the title for 11 consecutive years, will face Al-Qurain at 5:00 pm. The second match of the day sees Yarmouk square off against Salmiya at 6:30 pm. Al-Qurain secured its spot in the quarterfinals after defeating Al-Sahel 36-31 in the preliminary round. Yarmouk advanced in a hard-fought match, narrowly edging past Al-Tadamon 27-26. Al-Samiya also qualified by beating Al-Nasr with a score of 36-31. In transfer news, Al-Qadsiya is on the verge of signing Tunisian international and Shabab Al-Ahli (UAE) standout Rayan Zariat. He is expected to replace Montenegrin player Vladan, who is reportedly close to joining Kuwait Club. Kuwait Club is expected to rely on their foreign trio: Frankis Marzo, Vladan, and a yet-to-be-confirmed European midfielder. In a separate development, Al-Nasr handball players Jaber Al-Azmi and Sayer Al-Enezi have announced their retirement from the sport following their team's Cup Championship exit. Al-Azmi is expected to take on the role of assistant goalkeeper coach, while Al-Enezi may pursue a coaching position within the club.
Arab Times
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait Handball Association Cup heats up as the preliminary round concludes
KUWAIT CITY, June 18: The preliminary round of the 57th Kuwait Handball Association Cup wraps up today with Group Two matches at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex. The day's fixtures include Sulaibikhat vs. Al-Arabi at 4:30 pm, Khaitan vs. Burgan at 6:00 pm, and Al-Fahaheel vs. Al-Qadsiya at 7:30 pm. The tournament, which began yesterday, is set to conclude with the final match on June 28. The draw divided participating clubs into two groups. Group One features defending champion Kuwait Club, which was exempted from the preliminary round and will face the winner of yesterday's Al-Qurain vs. Al-Sahel match in the quarter-finals. The group also includes Yarmouk, Al-Tadamon, Al-Nasr, and Al-Salmiya. Group Two includes last season's runner-up Kazma, along with Sulaibikhat, Al-Arabi, Khaitan, Burgan, Al-Fahaheel, and Al-Qadsiya. Kazma will meet the winner of the Sulaibikhat vs. Al-Arabi match in the next stage. Assistant Treasurer of the Kuwait Handball Federation, Mishaal Al-Qabandi, emphasized the historic value of the tournament, calling it one of Kuwait's oldest and most prestigious handball competitions. He noted that the federation is committed to its continued development. Al-Qabandi also highlighted the readiness of participating clubs, pointing out that the tournament's timing—right after the league season concluded—has left players in peak physical condition. He encouraged fans to attend and support their teams. Meanwhile, national coach and technical analyst Khaled Melhem praised the competitive spirit of the 57th edition, citing high-level performances and the presence of standout professionals. Melhem said Kuwait Club remains the favorite but expects strong competition from Al-Qadsiya or Burgan, while noting that the unpredictable nature of the tournament could pave the way for a new champion.
