Kazma and "Al-Kuwait" Face Al-Arabi and Al-Nasr

Kazma and Al-Kuwait aim to remain at the top of the table as they face Al-Arabi and Al-Nasr, respectively, tomorrow, Friday, in the opening matches of the fourth round of the Zain Premier League. The competition resumes after a 33-day hiatus coinciding with the international break and Kuwait’s participation in Gulf Cup 27.

The “Oranges” (Al-Kuwait) lead the standings with seven points, ahead on goal difference over the “Whites” (Al-Arabi), who have held the title for the past five seasons. Al-Qadsieh sit third with six points, the same tally as Al-Salmiya and Al-Nasr. Al-Shabab and Al-Sahel occupy sixth and seventh place, respectively, with four points each, followed by Fehaisil and Al-Jahra (three points), and Al-Arabi and Sulaybiyat (two points). Al-Tadamon languish at the bottom of the table with zero points.

The clash between Kazma and their guest, Al-Arabi, represents the highlight of the fourth round, given the historic rivalry between the two sides and the high stakes of the match: one side seeks to maintain its lead at the summit, while the other aims to escape the slump of poor results that has relegated them to a tenth-place position, which is below their standards.

While the “Oranges” have focused on local preparations under Croatian coach Dragan Tadić, the “Greens” (Al-Arabi), led by another Croatian, Goran Sablić, held a training camp in the United Arab Emirates, playing friendly matches that were not publicly announced.

Sablić is aware that another defeat could place him in an awkward position with the club’s management, which may be forced to make a decisive decision if the team’s poor results continue.

The management has renewed its trust in the coach despite a shaky start to the league campaign, marked by a 2-1 loss to Al-Jahra, a 3-3 draw with Al-Kuwait, and an identical scoreline against Sulaybiyat. Prior to that, the team was eliminated from the AFC Champions League Two qualifying play-off after a 4-1 defeat to Indian hosts East Bengal.

For their part, Kazma appear to be in good shape after regaining the services of international players Nasser Falah and Shuaib Al-Khalidi, along with Yemeni international Nasser Muhammadwah, following their participation in Gulf Cup 27.

In another equally important fixture, Al-Kuwait visit Al-Nasr, aiming to share the top spot or even seize it outright if Kazma stumble.

Al-Arabi are the only team to have played an official match during the break, when they suffered a 3-2 defeat to UAE-based Al-Ittihad Kalba in the AFC Champions League Two.

Al-Nasr, coming off a heavy 3-0 loss to Al-Qadsieh in the previous round, are seeking a “revival” against the title holders, hoping to return to the winning track that saw them start the competition with victories over Al-Salmiya and Fehaisil.

On Saturday, Al-Qadsieh face a tough test against Al-Tadamon, who have failed to earn any points from their last three matches.

The “Yellows” (Al-Qadsieh) regained their balance with a win over Al-Nasr after a loss to Al-Kuwait, keeping them close to the top of the table and keen to continue pressing the leaders.

In the match between Al-Salmiya and Al-Shabab, both teams share the goal of moving into the top positions. The “Sky Blues” (Al-Salmiya) look to maintain their momentum after an opening defeat to Al-Nasr, followed by wins against Al-Sahel and Al-Tadamon. Meanwhile, the “Ahmadi Blues” (Al-Shabab) have had mixed results, with a 3-2 win over Al-Jahra, a 1-1 draw with Sulaybiyat, and a 2-3 loss to Kazma.