Petrovic and Nebojsa pose for camera after the press conference for the Super Cup.

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: Qadsia coach Zeljko Petrovic acknowledged the challenge of facing Kuwait Club in the Super Cup final, a sentiment echoed by Kuwait Club's Montenegrin coach, Nebojsa Jovovic, during a press conference at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium.

Petrovic emphasized his goal of securing the Super Cup title at Kuwait Club's expense, acknowledging that it would be a tough task for the reigning champions, given the quality players Kuwait Club possesses.

"I have full trust in all the Qadsia players, but I rely on the players who are match-ready," Petrovic said. He hinted at possible inclusions in the lineup, with the return of key players who had been sidelined by injuries, such as Khaled Ibrahim—who featured in part of the semi-final match—Abdullah Mutawa, and goalkeeper Khaled Al-Rashidi.

"I aim to win my first title with Qadsia, to make the fans happy, and to add another championship to the team's collection," Petrovic added.

He went on to praise Kuwait Club as a tough and well-equipped opponent, highlighting their deep squad, including 6 or 7 international players on the bench, and expressing satisfaction with his team's progress.

Qadsia goalkeeper Ali Jarrah underlined the importance of the match, acknowledging the strength of Kuwait Club, a team with a history of winning championships. He called for strong fan support, recognizing that the fans are a key motivator for the players.

Meanwhile, Jovovic shared his enthusiasm, noting that both he and the players are motivated to achieve a positive result and secure the Super Cup, the first title of the current season. "The chances of both teams winning are equal. The most important thing is to score goals and not concede," he said.

Kuwait Club player Ali Hussein expressed the team's commitment to putting in a performance worthy of the club's history and winning the title for their fans. "I’m happy to serve my team in whatever role is needed, showing that the team values me," he said.

Kuwait Club faces Qadsiya at 7:15 pm. This marks the seventeenth edition of the prestigious tournament.

Kuwait Club leads the tournament's history with 7 titles, while Qadsiya has secured 6 victories, compared to 3 for Al-Arabi.

The two teams have previously met 9 times in the Super Cup final, with Kuwait Club emerging victorious 6 times and Qadsiya 3 times. The most recent meeting between the two sides in the competition was in 2019, where Qadsiya triumphed with a 1-0 win.

Tonight's clash will be the third encounter between Kuwait Club and Qadsiya this season. The teams first met in the Zain Premier League, with Kuwait winning the first leg by a narrow margin of 1-0. However, in January, Qadsiya handed Kuwait Club its first league defeat of the season with a 2-1 victory.

Kuwait Club will be without the services of strikers Ibrahim Kamil and Tunisian Yassin Al-Khenisi for today's match. Kamil is sidelined for about two months due to a hamstring tear, while Al-Khenisi is dealing with a severe muscle strain.

Meanwhile, The coordination meeting for the Super Cup final of the 2024-2025 sports season was held at the meeting hall of Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. The session was attended by Dr. Saleh Al-Majroub, Secretary-General of the Kuwait Football Association, along with members of the working committees and representatives from various state ministries.

Dr. Al-Majroub took the opportunity to provide a detailed explanation regarding the entry procedures for the public, media, and VIPs, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with security personnel and volunteers to ensure smooth operations.

By Hassan Mosa