Latest news with #Al-ArabiClub
Arab Times
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Burgan Club signs Serbian star Nikolić ahead of Asian Championship debut
KUWAIT CITY, July 12: Burgan Club has strengthened its handball squad by signing Serbian national team standout Jovica Nikolić as its third professional player, joining Japanese player Kasuke Yasuhira and Croatian Stipe Mandalinic. The club also renewed the contracts of key players, including goalkeeper Mehdi Khan, Hamoud Al-Adwani, and Ahmed Mazal, along with head coach Hussein Habib, reaffirming their commitment to continuity and stability. Meanwhile, Al-Arabi Club has bolstered its squad by signing Denir Janima, formerly of Sulaibikhat, and his fellow countryman Mikhail Loeb, in addition to renewing the contract of Tunisian professional Osama Al-Jaziri. Burgan Club recently made history by finishing second in the Premier League for the first time, earning a spot in the upcoming Asian Club Championship. In contrast, Al-Arabi concluded the season in sixth place.
Arab Times
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Marco Alves named Al-Arabi coach as club prepares for new season
KUWAIT CITY, July 9: Al-Arabi Club has officially appointed Portuguese coach Marco Cesar Pereira Alves to lead the club's first football team as preparations begin for the upcoming 2025–2026 season. Alves replaces Nasser Al-Shatti, the Kuwaiti coach who led Al-Arabi for two consecutive seasons. Despite notable achievements — including finishing as runner-up in the Zain Premier League and the Crown Prince Cup, as well as reaching the Amir's Cup final (postponed due to regional circumstances) — both sides reached a mutual decision to part ways. While Alves may not have an extensive head coaching résumé, he brings considerable experience as an assistant coach. His past roles include stints with Sharjah (UAE) and Al-Taawoun (Saudi Arabia), as well as several Portuguese clubs, including Vitória Guimarães, Trofense, Chaves, Moreirense, and Gil Vicente. He has also obtained the prestigious UEFA Pro License, qualifying him to manage both top-tier European clubs and national teams. Alves and his assistant staff are expected to arrive in Kuwait within the next two days to finalize contract details, ahead of their first official duty: leading the team's preseason training session on Tuesday. Al-Arabi will begin its competitive campaign on August 12, facing Maziya Sports of the Maldives in a critical play-off match for a spot in the group stage of an upcoming international tournament. One of the new coaching staff's first major responsibilities will be finalizing the club's foreign player lineup. The club has renewed contracts with its two Nigerian players, Emmanuel Iwala and Christopher John, but opted not to retain Sofiane Bouchar (Algeria), Hamza Khaba (Morocco), and Kamil Al-Aswad (Bahrain). Al-Arabi's management has been actively scouting foreign talent to strengthen the squad ahead of the Zain Premier League, which kicks off on September 12. Among the latest names linked to the club is Egyptian striker Marawan Hamdi, currently playing for Pyramids FC.
Arab Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Arabi Club accuses KFA of mishandling Hamdan transfer
KUWAIT CITY, July 6: Al-Arabi Club has formally written to the Kuwait Football Association (KFA), expressing surprise and concern over the association's lack of response regarding the removal of defender Hassan Hamdan from Al-Arabi's roster. The letter highlights the involvement of KFA President Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef, who urged the prevention of violations to safeguard club rights and maintain the association's reputation among sports fans. Al-Arabi accused the KFA of ignoring a notarized contract and attempting to issue an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) without proper authorization. On June 19, Al-Arabi submitted Hamdan's new contract to the KFA for registration and authentication, proving his ongoing contractual ties. Despite responding promptly to KFA's July 3 request for additional information, Al-Arabi discovered through the Transfer Matching System (TMS) that their name was removed from Hamdan's records. The club claims the KFA issued the ITC before receiving their reply, violating official procedures. The letter alleges deliberate delays and obstruction aimed at undermining Al-Arabi's contractual rights by processing the ITC before the new contract was officially approved, raising concerns of bias and unfairness. Al-Arabi warns that the KFA's silence could strengthen the player's position and potentially lead to future arbitration disputes, damaging the reputations of both Al-Arabi and the Kuwait Football Association. The club holds the KFA fully responsible for any legal or sporting consequences arising from this inaction. Separately, Al-Arabi is preparing a formal complaint against Al-Ahli Club of Jordan for engaging in unauthorized negotiations with Hassan Hamdan despite his active contract with Al-Arabi. This follows a previous failed negotiation with the Al-Ramtha Club of Jordan last June.
Arab Times
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Arabi in talks to retain Al-Shatti amid interest from Al-Salmiya
KUWAIT CITY, June 18: Al-Arabi Club and head coach Nasser Al-Shatti are still in discussions over his future with the team, following a meeting held that ended without a final decision. Both sides, however, reached a preliminary agreement to continue, contingent on aligning key views. The meeting focused on reviewing the previous season, including challenges related to foreign players, performance gaps, and areas needing improvement. Both Al-Shatti and the club's board agreed that adjustments are necessary to compete more effectively for championships. A follow-up meeting is expected either today or tomorrow to finalize the decision. Under the leadership of Nasser Al-Shatti and his assistant coach—his brother Maitham—Al-Arabi had a strong campaign last season, finishing second in the Zain Premier League and as runner-up in the Crown Prince Cup. The team also reached the final of the Emir's Cup, which has been postponed due to regional circumstances. Meanwhile, Al-Shatti has also been in advanced talks with Al-Salmiya Club. The two parties reportedly agreed on most contractual terms, although no official signing has taken place yet. The coming days are expected to be decisive in determining whether Al-Shatti remains at Al-Arabi or makes a move to Al-Salmiya ahead of the new season.
Arab Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Sheikh Mubarak congratulates the sports family on the Crown Prince Cup final
KUWAIT CITY, May 20: Vice President of the Kuwait Olympic Committee, Sheikh Mubarak Faisal Nawaf Al-Sabah, extended his congratulations to the Kuwaiti sports community following the presence of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah at the final match of the Crown Prince Cup, held recently at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. In a press statement, Sheikh Mubarak described the Crown Prince's attendance as a great honour for all athletes, emphasising that it sends a strong and clear message about the leadership's genuine interest in supporting youth and sports. He affirmed that this ongoing encouragement from the wise leadership has significantly inspired and motivated young Kuwaiti athletes. Sheikh Mubarak also highlighted His Highness the Crown Prince's keenness to offer guidance to the nation's athletes and praised the high level of sportsmanship shown by players from both teams. He congratulated Kuwait Sports Club on clinching the Crown Prince Cup title and wished Al-Arabi Club continued success in upcoming competitions.
