KUWAIT CITY, April 14: Burgan Club’s first volleyball team pulled off a major upset by defeating defending Premier League champion Kuwait Club 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 19-25, 25-20, 15-13) in a thrilling five-set match at the Volleyball Association Hall at Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Sports Complex. The encounter, part of the Premier League’s first round, showcased intense competition and high-level play.

In another first-round fixture, Qadsia secured a 3-1 win over Al-Shabab (25-15, 25-19, 16-25, 25-20), collecting three points to top the early league standings.

With this win, Burgan made a bold statement about its championship ambitions, overcoming both the league and the recent Super Cup champion, Kuwait Club. Burgan’s players showed grit and determination, pushing Al-Ameed’s star-studded squad to the decisive fifth set and emerging victorious.

Assistant Coach Abdullah Talib attributed Kuwait Club’s loss to a string of health issues among key players. "Several players have been suffering from a cold, especially Abdullah Jassim and Brazilian star Joao," Talib explained. "Additionally, Iranian player Saber Kazemi played through an elbow injury and was far from his best".

Talib also noted the team's heavy schedule, saying, "We played 12 matches before facing Burgan and won all of them. A dip in performance was expected."

He praised Burgan’s performance, acknowledging, "It played at a high level and were well-prepared. It deserved the win."

Looking ahead, Talib confirmed that Kuwait Club has already begun preparations for their next match against Al-Arabi. He also announced the return of trainer Abdullah Bouftin from injury, while second trainer Adhbi Al-Enezi is still recovering but played through his injury against Burgan.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff