Al-Yousef discussed with Bin Khalifa the developments in Gulf and international football
The President of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Football Association, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef, met yesterday in Doha with the Qatari Minister of Sports and Youth, as well as the President of the Qatar and Gulf Football Associations, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef and Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa discussed the latest developments concerning Gulf and international football during the meeting.
Al-Yousef also met with the players of the “Blue Team” (Kuwait national team) and members of the administrative and technical staff during the national team’s training camp, which concluded yesterday in the Qatari capital, Doha, in preparation for the “Gulf Cup 27,” set to kick off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the 23rd of this month. Al-Yousef urged the players to exert greater effort and dedication during training sessions and the Gulf Cup 27 tournament, emphasizing the need to represent Kuwait in the best possible manner at this prestigious event.
On a separate note, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa visited the “Blue Team’s” training sessions during their camp in Doha. The “Blue Team” will hold their second training session today in Jeddah, preparing for a friendly match against Yemen tomorrow, as part of both teams’ preparations for the Gulf Cup 27.
The “Blue Team” delegation arrived in Jeddah yesterday from Doha, following the conclusion of their one-week training camp at the Aspire Academy pitches. This camp was part of the preparatory program devised by the technical staff to enhance player readiness ahead of the Gulf tournament. During the Doha camp, the national team underwent an intensive training regimen led by Portuguese coach Hélio Sousa. The technical staff focused on physical, technical, and tactical aspects, while also fostering cohesion among the players. Additionally, the “Blue Team” played a friendly match against Qatari club Al-Lail, which they won 2-1.
The “Blue Team” begins today’s training with a full squad, after players from Al-Kuwait Club joined the delegation following their participation with the “White Team” against Al-Ittihad Kalba in the UAE, as part of the AFC Champions League Two. The arrival of the nine Al-Kuwait players provides the technical staff with broader options during training and the friendly against Yemen, particularly as the team enters a crucial phase of preparation. During this stage, Sousa aims to finalize the starting lineup and the playing style to be employed in the tournament.
The match against Yemen serves as an important preparatory milestone for the technical staff to assess player readiness and implement various tactical elements, while also giving newly integrated players the opportunity to acclimate to the national team environment before the official competitions begin.
The “Blue Team” will kick off their Gulf Cup 27 campaign against host nation Saudi Arabia on September 23, followed by a match against Iraq on September 26. They will conclude their group stage matches against Oman on September 26, as part of Group 1.
