Al-Salmiya kicks off its pre-season friendlies with a clash against Zed

Al-Salmiya will face Egyptian Premier League side ZED FC on Sunday evening as part of their training camp in the Turkish city of Izmit in preparation for the new football season.

Al-Samawi arrived in Izmit on Friday with a large delegation comprising administrative, technical, and medical staff, along with 33 players. Head coach Ali Ashour, a Bahraini, decided to bring a group of young talents.

The squad also includes Mubarak Al-Funayn, who has returned after the expiration of his contract with Al-Qadsiah, and new arrivals Abdullah Al-Jazzaf, Aqeel Al-Hazim, Abdullah Al-Ayoub, Khaled Al-Othman, Fahad Al-Amiri, and Ahmed Khorshid. The foreign contingent consists of Uzbek Shahzod Azimdinov, Bahraini Abdullah Yusuf, Congolese Trezor Chebiwabo, and Syrian Mahmoud Al-Aswad, who is continuing from last season. The fifth foreign player is expected to be announced this week.

The team will play three more matches during the camp against Qatari side Al-Markhiya on August 6 and Algerian club Olympique de Chlef on August 10. The opponent for the fourth match, scheduled for the 14th, has not yet been determined.

In London, Al-Kuwait FC lost 1-0 to English hosts Milton Keynes Dons on Friday in their first friendly match of their camp in the British capital.

Al-Abyad (The Whites) are expected to play at least two more matches in London, where they will face Portsmouth, a team active in the Championship, in a strong test on August 5, before meeting second-division side Barnet on the 9th.

Amidst clubs' moves to bolster their squads before the start of the new season, Al-Shabab Club, which departs today for the Egyptian capital Cairo to hold a training camp, announced the extension of the loan of goalkeeper Dhari Al-Otaibi from Al-Kuwait.

Al-Otaibi joined Al-Ahmar (The Red) in January last year on loan, and the administrations of both clubs agreed to extend the loan until the end of next season.

Al-Ahmar’s camp will continue until the 18th of the month, during which they will play several friendly matches.

Al-Jahra lost 1-0 to Al-Nassr in a friendly match played on Thursday.

Team manager Abdulrahman Al-Anzi stated that the preparation program devised by national coach Ahmed Abdul-Karim includes playing more friendly matches in the coming period and giving all players the opportunity to participate in these trials.