Latest news with #TalalAl-Qallaf
Arab Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait U-16 basketball team opens Gulf Cup qualifiers against UAE
MANAMA, July 6: Kuwait's Under-16 basketball team will begin its campaign in the Gulf Cup Qualifiers today with a crucial opening match against the United Arab Emirates at 5:00 pm, followed by Bahrain vs. Oman at 7:30 pm. All matches will take place at Umm Al-Hassam Hall in the Bahraini capital. The qualifiers will follow a single round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the Asian Junior Cup Finals scheduled for August in Mongolia. The Kuwaiti squad, led by head coach Dr. Talal Al-Qallaf and assistant Yahya Al-Bahr, enters the tournament after three weeks of local training followed by an intensive training camp in Cairo, where the team played five friendly matches to fine-tune preparations. Among the standout players in the squad are: Abdulaziz Al-Mutawa, Fareej Al-Freej, Omar Al-Saleh, Musaed Al-Obaidi, Mishaal Al-Azmi, Abdulrahman Al-Qatifi, and Abdullah Al-Jarid. Mishaal Mohammed, Board Member of the Kuwait Basketball Association and National Teams Director, expressed confidence in the team's readiness. 'We prepared well, and the training camp was successful. The technical staff worked hard to correct mistakes from the Cairo friendlies and ensure the players are in peak condition. We are aiming to compete for top spots and qualify for the Asian Finals,' he said.
Arab Times
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait U-16 basketball team begins indoor camp ahead of Gulf Championship
KUWAIT CITY, June 9: Kuwait's under-16 basketball team is set to begin an indoor training camp tomorrow as part of its preparations for the upcoming Gulf Championship, which serves as a qualifier for the Asian Cup Finals scheduled to take place in Bahrain from July 7 to 12. The camp will feature 14 promising players, with the coaching staff, led by national team coach Talal Al-Qallaf, expected to select 12 of them to participate in the external camp in Cairo from June 21 to July 5. Ghazi Al-Otaibi, Treasurer of the Kuwait Basketball Association and Head of the National Team Delegation, explained that the team's preparation program has been in place for some time, beginning with a training camp in Istanbul last January. He emphasized the need for specialized physical conditioning due to the players' recent absence from training while they focused on school exams. Al-Otaibi added that during the Cairo camp, the Blues will play six friendly matches, including one against the Egyptian youth team. He stressed that the national team is determined to compete for top positions in the Gulf Championship, especially given Kuwait's consistent podium finishes in recent years at regional tournaments.
