A file photo of players in action.

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 9: The delegations of Kuwait and Kazma clubs are departing for Qatar today to compete in the 27th Asian Clubs Championship, hosted in Doha from November 12-23.

Last month’s draw placed Kuwait Club in Group A, alongside Qatar’s Al-Rayyan, UAE’s Al-Sharjah, and Bahrain’s Al-Shabab. Kazma Club was drawn in Group B with titleholder Al-Khaleej of Saudi Arabia, Al-Duhail of Qatar, Ahli Sidab of Oman, and Iran’s Mes Kerman.

The championship’s opening day will feature a match between Kazma and Ahli Sidab, while Mes Kerman faces Al-Khaleej and Al-Shabab takes on Al-Rayyan. Kuwait Club will play its first match on the second day against Al-Sharjah.

Kuwait Club prepared for the tournament with an external camp in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, which included a friendly match against Al-Ahli of Bahrain. The team is strengthened by Qatari professionals Frankis Marzo and Portuguese player Angel Hernandez, along with tournament professionals: Portuguese Semedo, Algerian Osama Jaziri, and Brazilian Guillermo Santista. The team is led by national coach Haitham Al-Rashidi.

Kazma Club, meanwhile, held a training camp in Cairo, Egypt, where it played several friendly matches. Coached by Serbian Bozo, the squad includes Tunisian professionals Anwar bin Abdullah and Mohamed Farad, along with tournament players Wajdi Sinan from Tunisia, Argentine Moscono Lux, and Portuguese Gonzalo Felipe.

In support of their participation, the Handball Federation has postponed Kuwait Club and Kazma’s league matches from the fifth round. The teams will resume play in the ninth round upon their return, with postponed matches set for March, at the start of the Premier League.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff