KUWAIT: The head of the Competitions Committee in the "Khaleeji Zain 26” tournament Dr Hamed Al-Shaibani confirmed the completion of all the committee’s preparations days before the arrival of the brothers in the teams competing for the title of the cup in its current edition, indicating the completion of all administrative and technical arrangements before the start of the final stage of the teams’ preparations to start competing.
Al-Shaibani added that the Competitions Committee followed up the logistical preparations for the tournament during the past periods, whether from the preparation and maintenance of all stadiums designated to host the competitions, namely Jaber International and Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadiums, in addition to 8 stadiums that have been allocated for the training of the participating teams.
He added that the committee, in coordination with the GCC Federation, confirms commitment to all the organizational regulations of the tournament approved by the Board of Directors of the Arabian Gulf Cup Federation, pointing out that the Gulf federations have been provided with the participation and tournament regulations.
Al-Shaibani thanked the Minister of Information and Culture, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee of the tournament, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, who closely follows all preparations and always directs to meet all needs, and pointed to the distinguished role of the Vice President of the Organizing Committee and President of the Football Association Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef for his great efforts to organize the Gulf event in a proper manner, and the exit of the tournament in the best image.
Al-Shaibani wished success to all participating teams, and said that the "Gulf Zain 26” competitions will come out in the organizational and technical form required for the Gulf football-loving fans, who are waiting for the starting whistle with passion and anticipation in a competitive and fraternal atmosphere, stressing that everyone is a winner in this gathering of brothers in Kuwait. The "Gulf Zain 26” tournament will be held at Jaber International Stadium, which hosts the opening ceremony and the final match, and Jaber Al Mubarak, which witnesses the first rehearsal today with a friendly meeting between Kuwait and Al-Sulaibikhat at 05:15 pm.
The stadium for Al-Sulaibikhat officially opened last Wednesday, in the presence of Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, head of the Supreme Organizing Committee of the tournament. The stadium, which has a capacity of about 15,000 spectators, will host 7 matches in "Gulf Zain 26”, the first of which is the meeting between the Qatari and Emirati teams on the first day of the tournament, and the last of which is one of the two semi-final matches on December 31.
For his part, Saad Anad, President of Al-Sulaibikhat Club, emphasized that hosting Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium at Al-Sulaibikhat Club for a number of matches of "Khaleeji Zain 26” is a source of great pride for all members of the club. On the occasion of the opening of the stadium, Anad said: "Receiving this new stadium, which is an important sports edifice for the sports youth in Kuwait, for the Gulf brothers in this Gulf sports wedding will be the best inauguration, and we welcome all brothers in their country Kuwait.”
He pointed out that the match between Kuwait and Al-Sulaibikhat, organized by the Kuwait Football Association, is a test of the technical readiness of the stadium before it hosts the first Gulf matches, which brings together the Emirati and Qatari teams on the opening day of the tournament next Saturday, and the rest of the matches respectively. Anad extended his thanks and appreciation to the Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi for his keenness to complete the stadium work and prepare it to host the "Gulf Zain 26” matches, noting also the efforts of the Public Authority for Sport in this regard.