Officials pose for a group photo after the coordination meeting at the Association’s headquarters.

KUWAIT CITY, March 15: Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Football Association, announced a proposal to be presented to the Board of Directors soon. This proposal aims to establish a league exclusively for Kuwaiti players of a specific age group to further develop local talent. Al-Youssef emphasized that this initiative would boost support for Kuwaiti players.

The announcement came during a coordination meeting held at the Association's headquarters, attended by key figures including Osama Hussein, Vice Chairman of Technical Affairs; Fahd Al-Hamlan, Board Member; Dr. Saleh Al-Majroub, Secretary-General; Abdulaziz Ashour, Chairman of Al-Arabi Club; Dr. Hamed Al-Shaibani, Director of Competitions; and representatives from Al-Qadisiyah Club, including Faisal Al-Shammari, Shaker Al-Shatti, and Abdullah Al-Haeri.

Sheikh Ahmed Al-Youssef reaffirmed the Association's full support for Al-Arabi and Al-Qadisiya Clubs and pledged to remove any obstacles preventing their participation in international competitions, such as the AFC Challenge League and the Gulf Champions League. He expressed hope for their success on the international stage, stressing that the qualification of both teams is a source of pride for Kuwaiti sports. He also highlighted how winning these titles would elevate Kuwait’s standing in international football.

Additionally, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef shared details about the proposal to create a new league, referred to as the “Professional League,” aimed at supporting local players' growth and development.

Regarding the potential involvement of clubs or government institutions in local competitions, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef stated that meetings will be held with the Police Federation, National Guard, Ministry of Defense, and major companies to explore their participation in the federation’s competitions. He clarified that participation would be conditional and open only to large corporations.

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef also revealed plans to meet with Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation, on April 11 to discuss Kuwait’s bid to host the 2031 AFC Asian Cup.

Regarding Al-Jazeera Club’s participation, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef confirmed that FIFA has approved the club’s legal right to participate in local competitions.

Ashour praised the meeting, emphasizing the federation’s and Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef’s commitment to ensuring Al-Arabi and Al-Qadsiya compete for international titles. He further noted that the meeting established a clear strategy for both teams’ paths in their respective tournaments, with the federation’s support being key to their success in international competitions.

Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff