Qadsia vs. Arabi: A 'Top' Clash in Hawalli
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The seventh round of the Zain League features a match between Qadsia and Arabi in Hawalli, followed by a game between Jahra and Fahaheel
Translated by Qiyas from الأنباء — Original source
The Al-Qadsia-Al-Arabi derby continues to uphold its entrenched traditions in the hearts of fans, even as the distance between the two clubs has widened. Today, the derby will take center stage in the seventh round of the Zain Premier League, held at the Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium in the Hawalli area, promising an electrifying, goal-laden encounter. The match will be preceded by a clash between Al-Jahra, who sit on six points, and Fahaheel, who have nine points, at the Mubarak Al-Kabir Stadium.
Fans eagerly anticipate the fierce rivalry between Al-Qadsia and Al-Arabi, as always, for added excitement. Al-Qadsia, nicknamed “The Yellow,” enters the matchup with 12 points from four wins and one defeat, boasting 11 goals scored and only two conceded. They still have one postponed match that could further bolster their challenge for the top spot alongside Kuwait SC and Kazma SC. Al-Qadsia are enjoying a resurgence under coach Mohammed Ibrahim, following Meshari’s standout performance in the AFC Challenge Cup and consistent league form, highlighted by a 4-0 victory over Al-Shabab. The team relies on a strong squad, including Hamza Khaba, Ayoub El Khadiri, Nasser Al-Rouaihi, Khaled Ibrahim, Jassem Al-Mutairi, and goalkeeper Hamid Al-Qallaf.
On the other hand, Al-Arabi’s start to the season, with just six points, was disappointing and led to the dismissal of Croatian coach Zlatko Sapičić and the return of former Bosnian coach Darko Nestorović. Nestorović secured the team’s first win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Fahaheel in the previous round, restoring confidence among the players ahead of tonight’s derby. Al-Arabi’s signings of foreign players this season have not met expectations, and the club has struggled with inconsistency among its goalkeepers. The coach has finally settled on Ahmed Adi, who has played for several clubs in previous seasons. However, derby matches are rarely dictated by past statistics and numbers.
In the Al-Jahra versus Fahaheel match, both teams will be eager to quickly bounce back from their recent defeats to Al-Salmiya and Al-Arabi, particularly the host side, which currently occupies a low position in the table.
