Salibikhaet Faces Hadhramout People in Historic Appearance in "Arab Basketball"
Kuwaiti Salibikhaet makes its first external appearance in the Arab Basketball Championship in Beirut, after several Kuwaiti clubs declined.
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
Al-Salmiya begins its historic debut in the 38th Arab Basketball Clubs Championship when it faces Yemen’s Shabab Hadhramaut at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, in the first round of Group B matches. The tournament, hosted by the Lebanese capital Beirut, runs until October 20.
In two other matches in the same group, Syria’s Homs Al-Fida will take on Lebanon’s Beirut, while Qatar’s Al-Arabi will face Lebanon’s Hobus.
Group A matches kick off on Saturday with three games: Oman’s Al-Seeb will play Syria’s Ahli Aleppo, Lebanon’s Markazi will face Qatar’s Al-Rayyan, and Bahrain’s Al-Manama will meet Lebanon’s Al-Hakam.
Al-Salmiya enters the tournament with high ambitions in its first-ever away appearance, aiming to leave a strong impression. The team finished fifth in last season’s league before earning a spot in the Arab Championship after Kuwait, Al-Qadsia, Kazma, and Al-Qurain clubs declined to participate.
To strengthen its squad, Al-Salmiya’s management signed Greek coach Antonios Doukas, along with three foreign players: Russian Alexander, who stands at an impressive 2.20 meters; and Americans Rico Johnson and Klobert Cowart. These additions aim to elevate the team’s level and provide the necessary boost against a elite field of Arab clubs.
Al-Salmiya also bolstered its roster with local talent, adding Hamad Al-Ali on loan from Kazma, alongside former Kuwait SC star Abdulrahman Al-Jumaa, completing a squad the team hopes will deliver convincing performances.
Before the tournament began, Al-Salmiya’s delegation head and team manager, Ayman Al-Anzi, affirmed the team’s readiness for the competition. He emphasized that the participation marks an important milestone in the club’s history, with the goal of delivering an honorable performance and competing for top positions.
Al-Anzi noted that Al-Salmiya’s group is balanced, with no significant disparities among the participating clubs, giving the team extra motivation to deliver a strong performance and secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
He explained that the team prepared well for the championship by playing several friendly matches against Al-Sahel, Kazma, and the U.S. Army team, which helped improve players’ technical and physical readiness, bringing them to peak condition ahead of the tournament.
