Qadsiya player spikes the ball as Kuwait Club players defend.

KUWAIT CITY, March 23: Volleyball fans are shifting their focus to the Volleyball Federation Hall at Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Complex, where a high-stakes league showdown is set to take place between Kuwait Club and Qadsia.

Kuwait Club sits at the top with 26 points, followed by Kazma (24 points), Al-Shabab and Qadsia (21 points each), Burgan (16 points), Al-Arabi (15 points), Al-Nasr (11 points), Al-Sulaibikhat (9 points), Al-Yarmouk (5 points), Al-Tadamon (3 points), and Al-Sahel (2 points).

The top six teams – Kuwait Club, Kazma, Al-Shabab, Qadsia, Burgan, and Al-Arabi – have already secured their places in the Premier League, which kicks off on April 13. The competition will feature a two-round format (home and away), after which the top four teams will advance to the Golden Square. In this stage, the first-place team will face the fourth, while the second-place team will take on the third to determine the finalists.

Under the guidance of new Brazilian coach Talmo Oliveira, Kuwait Club aims to solidify its lead at the top, banking on key players, including Iranian star Saber Kazemi and Brazilian standout Joao Ferreira. With a flawless 9-0 record, Kuwait Club is eager to complete a perfect run in the league.

Meanwhile, Qadsia, coached by Bahraini Redha Ali, has suffered just one defeat (against Al-Shabab) and is determined to climb the standings while handing Kuwait Club its first loss. The team relies on Iranian Mohammad Reza Bey and Bulgarian Branimir Grozdanov to lead the charge, especially ahead of its final-round showdown against Kazma on March 27.

In other league action, Kazma secured sole possession of second place with 24 points, breaking its tie with Al-Shabab after a commanding three-set victory (25-16, 25-12, 25-15) over Al-Tadamon at Union Hall. With the loss, Al-Tadamon remains at three points in the standings.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff