First Division Kicks Off Today
The Zain First Division matches begin today with the participation of 7 teams competing for two promotion spots to the Premier League, with Al-Yarmouk receiving a bye in the first round.
Translated by Qiyas from الأنباء — Original source
Kuwait officials announced that the first round of the Zain First Division football league kicks off today with three matches. Sporty will face Khaitan at Naif Al-Dabous Stadium, while Barqan will take on Al-Jazira at Nasser Al-Asimi Stadium, and Al-Shamahi will play against the new entrant, Police Union, at Al-Sahel Stadium. All matches will be held at 5:50 p.m.
Al-Yarmouk will receive a bye in the opening round and will begin their campaign against Barqan in the second round next Wednesday.
The seven competing teams will vie for two promotion spots to the Premier League for next season.
Khaitan and Barqan prepared for the start of the competition by holding external training camps in Egypt, while Al-Yarmouk held its training camp in Cairo last July. The remaining teams—Sporty, Al-Jazira, Al-Shamahi, and Police Union—limited their preparations to local training sessions and a number of friendly matches.
The league features four national coaches: Ibrahim Obaid (Al-Jazira), Fayez Faraih (Sporty), Falah Al-Sahli (Al-Shamahi), and Mohammed Bouabbas (Police Union), alongside three foreign coaches: Portuguese João Mota (Al-Yarmouk), Turkish Cenk Ozkan (Khaitan), and Russian Alexander Vladimirovich (Barqan).
Today’s match will mark the debut of Police Union, which joined the Kuwait Football Association’s activities last August after years of dominance in ministerial and government sector tournaments. Last season, the club achieved the domestic treble, winning the league, the cup, and the super cup.
