KUWAIT CITY, Oct 26: The Zain Premier League entered its sixth round, with a clash between Salmiya and Al-Shabab set to kick off at 7:00 pm at Al-Shabab Stadium.

The action continues on Saturday with two matches. First up, Al-Jahra face off against Al-Arabi at Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium at 5:30. Meanwhile, at the Friendship and Peace Stadium, Al-Fahaheel takeb on Al-Nasr at 8:28.
The round will conclude on Sunday, when Khaitan square off against Kazma, while leaders Kuwait, with 13 points, anticipate a challenging encounter against third-placed Al-Qadsia, who have 11 points.
This round could potentially witness a shift in the standings, especially if Al-Qadsia managed to hand leaders Kuwait their first defeat of the season.

Turning our attention to today’s match, it brings together two resurgent teams, both arriving on the back of victories in the last round. Al-Shabab, who “surprised” Kazma with a 2-1 win, secured their first victory in the competition and now sit on five points, elevating them to eighth place and a bit further from the relegation zone.
As for Al-Salmiya, currently in sixth place with 6 points, they managed to stage a comeback in the previous round, defeating Al-Jahra 2-1. They aspire to build on this resurgence, with their players regaining confidence after securing their second win in the competition.

Al-Arabi with 11 points, aim to compensate for their recent setback in the AFC Cup, where they suffered a 0-3 loss to Bahrain’s Riffa and dropped to third place in the group standings. Their German coach, Thomas Berdarich, is well aware of the challenges ahead, particularly given the absence of several key players due to injury.

On the other side, Al-Jahra, at the bottom of the standings with one point, hope to capitalize on Al-Arabi’s situation and secure their first victory in the competition. The outcome of tonight’s match may significantly impact Brazilian coach Gasiner Silva’s position at the coaching helm in Jahra, as his dismissal remains a possibility if the team face another defeat.

In the other match, two teams looking to recover from recent losses, Al-Nasr in fourth place with 7 points and Al-Fahaheel in ninth place with 2 points, are eager to make amends. Al-Nasr narrowly lost to Al-Qadsia with a single goal.

While the “Sons of the Tenth District” team suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Al-Arabi. Al-Nasr’s coach, Zaher Al-Adwani, hopes to restore a winning streak and take advantage of the opponent’s situation to remain among the leading teams. Meanwhile, Al-Fahaheel’s Syrian coach, Firas Al-Khatib, recognizes that facing “Al-Annabi” represents a critical juncture for his team if they want to distance themselves from the relegation zone and secure their first victory, necessitating a collective effort from all his players.

Hassan Musa
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff