Players fighting for the ball during Zain Premier League match.

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 19: The Zain Premier League reaches a decisive "turning point" as the sixteenth round kicks off today with two key matches. Fahaheel will face Al-Tadamon at 4:50 pm at Al-Shabab Stadium, while Khaitan will take on Kazma at 7:05 pm at Nasser Al-Osaimi Stadium.

The action continues tomorrow with two more encounters. Al-Yarmouk will face Al-Arabi at 4:50 pm at Abdullah Al-Khalifa Stadium, while Kuwait Club will face Al-Salmiya at 7:05 pm at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium in the round's highlight match. The round will conclude on Sunday with Al-Qadsiya meeting Al-Nasr at 4:50 pm at Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium.

In the opening match, fifth-placed Al-Fahaheel (22 points) is determined to cement its position among the league’s "big six." A victory will guarantee this goal, whereas a loss will force the team to wait another round for confirmation—a scenario it wants to avoid at all costs.

Meanwhile, Al-Tadamon, currently in sixth place with 15 points, finds itself in a precarious position, closely monitored by multiple challengers. Kazma and Al-Nasr are eager to overtake Al-Tadamon and claim its spot in the standings.

The "Blue of Farwaniya" aims to recover from a heavy 0-3 defeat to Al-Qadsiya in the previous round. A win today would help Al-Tadamon consolidate its standing among the top six, at least temporarily.

Seventh-placed Kazma (15 points) approaches its match with an aggressive mindset, knowing that an Al-Tadamon defeat would open the door for a climb into the top six. The team is keen to avoid last season’s disappointment, where it had to fight in the relegation avoidance league.

On the other hand, Khaitan, currently ninth with 8 points, aims to restore pride against Kazma, which had defeated it 2-0 in their previous encounter. Though Khaitan is already set to participate in the relegation avoidance league, it is determined to gather points and compete for survival.

Clubs placed seventh to tenth will battle in the relegation avoidance league, a single-round competition where two teams will be relegated to the first division, while the other two will retain their spots among the "big six" for the next season.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff