From Kazima to Azmit: Khaba joins Al-Qadsiya's training

Kuwait officials: The first team of Kazma Club departed at 9 a.m. today for the Turkish city of Izmit to hold a training camp running until August 14. The squad will train in morning and evening sessions in preparation for the start of the season, with the Premier League kicking off on August 25. The team will play four friendly matches, mostly against Gulf clubs, to gauge their level, as most of those teams are seeking strong preparation before the season begins.

Twenty-eight players will join the training camp, including the quartet of foreign professionals: Brazilian Patrick Robson, Senegalese Amath Ndao, Yemeni Nasser Mohammed Waal, and Algerian Idriss Chaabi. The fifth foreign professional will be announced in the coming days and will play as a striker.

The “Orange” squad has signed local players, adding Fahad Al-Hajri and Ahmed Al-Zanqi from Kuwait. They also loaned Saad Al-Athab to his former club, Al-Shabab, while Talal Al-Qaissy departed for Al-Arabi Club.

Meanwhile, the first team of Qadsia Club continues its morning and evening training sessions in Yalova, Turkey, in preparation for the new season. Moroccan striker Hamza Khabba, who joined the “Yellow” team as a replacement for former Senegalese striker Aboulaye Mbengue, was present at the sessions. Khabba brings extensive knowledge of the league, having previously played for traditional rival Al-Arabi.

Qadsia aims to improve the players’ physical condition and will play several friendly matches before returning on August 18. The team will not play any friendlies upon their return, as the Premier League begins on August 25.

As part of clubs’ preparations, the Kuwaiti league champions held their first training session in London, aiming to retain the title for the sixth consecutive season. The delegation departed the day before yesterday with 27 players, including new arrival Brazilian Carleneus Vinicius. The club’s management has also decided to renew the contracts of other foreign professionals: Moroccan Mehdi Barhuma, Tunisian Yassine Khenissi, Congolese Malik Zola, and Bahraini Mohammed Marhoon.

The “White” squad successfully signed four new local players: Hassan Hamdan, Salman Al-Awadi, last season’s best young player Abdullah Al-Qarzaei, and former Al-Salmiya striker Mubarak Al-Muhannadi.