Al-Abyad flies to Abu Dhabi to face Al-Ittihad

Kuwait officials: The Kuwait SC first football team delegation departed the country yesterday afternoon, heading to Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, in preparation for their match against Al-Ittihad Kalba on Wednesday, as part of the opening round of Group 1 in the AFC Champions League Two.

The “White” squad appears complete, with no significant absences ahead of the encounter with the Emirati side. Kuwait’s coach, Syrian Firas Al-Khatib, focused on tactical aspects during recent training sessions at the Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium at Al-Nasr Club.

Speaking before departing for Abu Dhabi, Al-Khatib stated that preparations are good ahead of the Al-Ittihad Kalba clash, following three strong matches in the Zain Premier League against Al-Arabi (3-3), Al-Qadsia (1-0), and Al-Jahra (1-0). He noted that the “White” team managed to secure seven points from these tough fixtures, despite not reaching the desired level of performance.

Al-Khatib attributed his dissatisfaction with the Kuwaiti team’s performance in the first three matches of the current season to the change in the technical staff just days before the season’s start. He acknowledged that such changes naturally bring about many differences, but emphasized that the team has managed to overcome this difficult phase.

He pointed out that Kuwait’s match against Al-Ittihad Kalba will not be easy, as they will face a historic club with significant capabilities. He also described Kuwait SC as a historic and prominent representative of Kuwaiti football, expressing the club’s desire to make an honorable appearance in the continental tournament.

Al-Khatib highlighted that the morale of the “White” players is high due to their selection for the national team ahead of the participation in the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup, scheduled to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from October 23 to November 6. He wished the “Blue” team success in their upcoming mission and positive results that would satisfy the expectations of their fans.