Al-Qadsia vs. Al-Arabi Derby: Continuing Victories and a Resurgence
Round seven competitions continue with the match between Al-Qadsia and Al-Arabi. Al-Qadsia seeks to maintain its winning streak under the leadership of Muhammad Ibrahim, while Al-Arabi aims to return to the right path under Darko.
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
Competitions in the seventh round of the Zain Premier League for football continue today, Sunday, with two matches. The Kuwaiti football derby will renew with Al-Qadsia facing Al-Arabi at 8:00 p.m. at the Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, preceded by the match between Al-Jahra and Al-Fahaheel at 5:30 p.m. at the Mubarak Al-Ayan Stadium.
It is worth noting that the match between Kuwait SC and Kazma SC has been postponed due to the participation of the White team in the second AFC Champions League and the Orange team in the Gulf Club Champions Cup.
Al-Qadsia, third with 12 points and a postponed match, enters the encounter to continue their winning streak, the latest of which was a 4-0 victory over Al-Shabab.
The Yellow team is experiencing technical stability, driven by positive results under coach Mohammed Ibrahim, who has lost only one match, against Kuwait SC in the second round. This stability is complemented by the team’s outstanding performance in the group stage of the Asian Challenge Cup, where they advanced to the quarter-finals by winning all three of their matches.
Despite this, Mohammed Ibrahim is aware of the difficulty of today’s match, as both sides are affected by fan pressure and a desire to secure victory. However, the coach is betting on the players’ spirit and their improving performance from one match to the next.
While Ivorian player Cedric returns to the starting lineup for the Yellow team, doubts remain regarding the participation of Khaled Mohammed Ibrahim due to a hamstring strain that kept him out of the match against Al-Shabab.
On the other side, Al-Arabi aims to defeat Al-Qadsia in today’s derby. Club officials believe that securing the three points means the Green team is back on the right track under Bosnian coach Darko, who led the team to their first victory of the season, a 2-0 win over Al-Fahaheel.
Furthermore, a victory for the Green team would have a positive impact by boosting confidence from the board of directors and fans, as well as improving their position in the standings.
Therefore, Al-Arabi, eighth with 6 points and a postponed match, enters the confrontation with the slogan “no alternative but victory,” relying on the technical staff’s emphasis on the players’ fighting spirit.
The technical staff of Al-Arabi are inclined to keep the same lineup that faced Al-Fahaheel, although the team will be without Khaled Al-Murshed due to injury.
As for the first match, which sees ninth-placed Al-Jahra (4 points) face fifth-placed Al-Fahaheel (9 points), the common goal for both is to regain balance. Al-Jahra lost 0-1 to Al-Salmiya, while Al-Fahaheel lost 0-2 to Al-Arabi.
Emphasis was placed on Al-Arabi’s ability to compete for the league title, noting that Al-Qadsia has regained its strength under coach Mohammed Ibrahim after three difficult years.
For his part, Hamad Al-Harbi confirmed Al-Arabi’s readiness, pointing out that previous results did not meet expectations due to minor errors, and that the team enters the derby with the aim of winning and pleasing the fans.
Al-Qadsia coach Mohammed Ibrahim confirmed his team’s readiness for the Al-Arabi derby, stressing that such matches have no fixed criteria and are not subject to predictions, given both teams’ desire to secure the three points.
Speaking at a press conference, Ibrahim stated that Al-Arabi remains the traditional rival and the true pinnacle of Kuwaiti football, and is aiming for victory under its new technical and administrative leadership. He added that Al-Qadsia has won four of their last five matches and is improving from game to game, but this does not guarantee superiority in the derby. He emphasized the necessity for the Yellow players to appear with the highest technical, mental, tactical, and physical readiness, confirming that he does not pay attention to discussions on social media and that previous results do not determine the outcome of the derby.
Dhari Saeed selected the Al-Qadsia vs. Al-Arabi match for his farewell ceremony, given the large expected fan attendance.
