Muhammad Al-Babtain

DAMMAM, Feb 19: Al-Qadsiya has secured a spot in the semi-finals of the Gulf Champions League, where they will face Al-Nasr of the UAE. The first leg is scheduled for March 4, followed by the return match on March 11. Meanwhile, Al-Ettifaq of Saudi Arabia will take on Iraq’s Duhok in the other semi-final. The final will be played over two legs on April 8 and 15.

The Kuwaiti club advanced after drawing 1-1 with Al-Ettifaq in Dammam. With this result, Al-Qadsiya finished second in the group with nine points, trailing Al-Ettifaq, who topped the standings with 13 points. The team edged out Bahrain’s Al-Riffa by just one point to secure their place in the next round.

Montenegrin coach Zeljko Petrovic expressed his delight after qualification, commending his players for their performance.

"We were fortunate that Al-Arabi managed to hold Al-Riffa to a draw, which helped us reach our goal," Petrovic stated.

Reflecting on the group stage, he added, "We played six matches, lost only one, but luck wasn’t always on our side in securing more wins."

Despite missing key players—Eid Al-Rashidi due to injury and Moroccan professional Ismail Khafi, who left for his home country after the passing of his mother—Petrovic praised his squad for stepping up and securing the crucial point against Al-Ettifaq.

In recognition of their efforts, Al-Qadsiya’s General Assembly member, Muhammad Al-Babtain, rewarded the players with 500 Kuwaiti dinars each. He also extended bonuses to the technical, administrative, and medical staff, encouraging the team to give their all in the semi-finals.

With a potential showdown against Al-Ettifaq on the horizon, Al-Qadsiya will now focus on their upcoming challenge against Al-Nasr, aiming to continue their strong campaign in the tournament.

Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff