KUWAIT CITY, Dec 4: The Zain Premier League is set to resume with two matches in the ninth and final round of the first section. In the first match, Khaitan and Al-Jahra will face off at Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium at 8:25 pm, while the second match will see Al-Qadsia as guests of Al-Shabab at 8:10 pm.

The league competition took a ten-day hiatus due to the preliminary round of the Crown Prince Cup competition.

Kuwait lead the standings with 17 points, holding a goal difference advantage over Al-Arabi, who won their postponed fixture 3-0 on Sunday. Al-Qadsia followed closely in third place with 16 points, and three clubs—Al-Nasr, Al-Salmiya, and Kazma—share the fourth spot with 13 points. Al-Shabab sit  in seventh place with 11 points, while Al-Fahaheel and Khaitan have 5 points each. Al-Jahra occupy the tenth and last place with one point.

Al-Qadsia, on the other hand, faced a tough challenge against Al-Fahaheel in the Crown Prince Cup's preliminary round, resulting in a draw. The team ultimately secured victory through penalty kicks.

Coach Muhammad Ibrahim acknowledges that another loss of points is something the team cannot afford, given their four draws in the past eight rounds. A victory is crucial to maintaining their title aspirations.

Meanwhile, Al-Shabab are in a period of recovery, achieving success in both the Crown Prince Cup and the league. The team advanced to the quarter-finals of the Crown Prince Cup by defeating Yarmouk 4-1 in the preliminary round, mirroring the result against Khaitan in the last round of the league.

In the other matchup between Khaitan and Al-Jahra, new leadership is introduced with Romanian Florin Matrock leading Khaitan and Abdullah Al-Shalahi taking charge of Al-Jahra. The encounter holds significance for both teams, as a victory for Khaitan means moving away from ninth place, while a win for Al-Jahra signifies a revival of hope and their first victory, marking the beginning of a journey to distance themselves from the relegation zone.

Hassan Musa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff