Al-Houti among the honored at 'Gulf Cup 27'
The Kuwaiti Football Association nominates Al-Houti for recognition at Gulf Cup 27 at the request of the Saudi Federation.
Translated by Qiyas from النهار — Original source
The Kuwait Football Association nominated former national team captain Saad Al-Houti for an award on the sidelines of the “Gulf Cup 27,” which concludes the day after tomorrow in Jeddah, in recognition of his significant contributions to the service of Kuwaiti football and the high standing and respect he enjoys within the sports community. Al-Houti’s nomination came following a letter from the Saudi Football Association, which requested the nomination of a distinguished sports figure to be honored during the Gulf tournament.
For his part, former “Blue” star Jasim Yaqoub expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Kuwait Football Association for selecting Captain Saad Al-Houti for this honor, emphasizing that the choice was a tribute to his career filled with dedication and loyalty, and the achievements he attained alongside his teammates, as well as his good character and dignified conduct with everyone. Yaqoub concluded his remarks by wishing the national team players success in upcoming tournaments.
Al-Houti is considered one of the most prominent players of his generation, having played a key role in the historic achievement of Kuwaiti football during the 1980s. He wore the captain’s armband for the national team at the 1980 Asian Cup, participating in all six of the team’s matches in the tournament and scoring two goals, the most notable being the opening goal in the final against South Korea, which helped crown the “Blues” with their first and only Asian title to date.
Al-Houti was known for his excellence in midfield, combining leadership, vision, composure, and the ability to control the tempo of the game, despite his relatively short physical stature, making him one of the key elements of the “Blues” during that era.
His achievements extended to the 1982 World Cup in Spain, where he captained the national team and participated in all three of Kuwait’s group stage matches. He also contributed to securing Kuwait’s first point in World Cup history by providing the assist for the equalizer against Czechoslovakia, which was scored by Faisal Al-Dakhil, ending the match 1-1.
Al-Houti played more than 70 matches for the national team, won the Gulf Cup three times, and participated in the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, where the “Blues” reached the quarter-finals. He also took part in the 1976 and 1980 Asian Cups, as well as the 1974 and 1978 Gulf Cups.
