Relief for Kuwait's Olympic team in Japan today

Kuwait officials: Spanish coach David Doniga, head coach of the national Olympic (under-23) football team, is putting the finishing touches on the “Blue” squad ahead of their campaign at the Asian Games in Japan.

The Olympic “Blue” team is scheduled to take a break from training in Japan today, following their late-night departure from the country yesterday. Coach Doniga prefers to reduce physical loads due to the travel fatigue.

The national under-23 team competes in Group 3 of the Asian Games alongside Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and the Philippines.

The Olympic squad begins its Asian Games journey against Vietnam on the 15th, followed by a match against Uzbekistan on the 18th, and concludes its group stage with a game against the Philippines on the 22nd.

The “Blue” Olympic squad appears complete, with no absences or injuries. Coach Doniga opted to select fit players who are regulars with their clubs. Kuwaiti Olympic striker Moath Al-Asim said that competition at the Asian Games will certainly be tough due to the strength of the opposing teams, emphasizing that he and his teammates are striving to reach the deepest possible stage in this continental tournament.

Coach Doniga has selected 23 players for the tournament: goalkeepers Abdulredha Shihab, Abdulrahman Ajaj, and Dhafer Al-Masri; defenders Hamoud Al-Sanousi, Bandar Al-Barazi, Ahmad Boudi, Muntaser Abdul Salam, Ali Hassan, Jasem Al-Anzi, Bandar Al-Salameh, Jasem Al-Shamikh; midfielders Abdullah Al-Ghanim, Omar Al-Mutairi, Abdullah Fares, Saleh Al-Mahatab, Talal Al-Qaissy, Moath Al-Asim, Eid Al-Azmi, Ahmad Khorshid, Mohammed Al-Sari’i, Fawaz Al-Mubaysh, Nasser Khader, and Mohammed Al-Sharif. Doniga also called up three players over the age of 23—Al-Asim, Al-Salameh, and Al-Mubaysh—to benefit from their experience.