KUWAIT: One of Kuwait’s greatest ever players has said that he is looking forward to supporting his beloved national team at the Khaleeji Zain 26 (Arabian Gulf Cup) which gets underway on Saturday evening at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. Saad Al-Houti captained Kuwait to Asian Cup glory in 1980, and also led his team to the FIFA World Cup finals in Spain two years later, establishing himself as one of the continent’s all-time greats with more than 70 appearances for The Blues.

Speaking ahead of the start of the prestigious regional tournament, Al-Houti shared his thoughts on Kuwait’s chances, who he thinks could be eventual champions and also some insights into his glorious career. “There will be a lot of psychological pressure on the Kuwait team which they will have to overcome,” said the 70-year-old. “They are playing at home and in front of their own fans, which they need to use as an advantage.

“The first match against Oman on Saturday will be crucial as it will show us what we have to offer and how ready we are to compete. The team needs to be prepared both physically and mentally and we, as fans, have a role to play in supporting and making the home advantage count.

“The Argentine coach, Juan Pizzi, has only been in his position for two months so it is hard to judge progress in such a short space of time. It needs two years to make a difference.” But Al-Houti shared his own experiences of being up against the odds, remembering the difficult build-up to their 1980 Asia Cup title win and also the challenges they faced in qualifying to the 1982 World Cup.

While hoping that The Blues can advance from a tough Group A, Al-Houti believes that the UAE will be favorites after beating Qatar 5-0 in their World Cup qualifier last month. “They (UAE) looked very strong in their win over Qatar and must be considered as one of the teams who can win the title here,” he said. Looking ahead to the tournament, which runs through to January 3, Al-Houti offered some wise advice to the Kuwaiti class of 2024 and reassured them that he will be their biggest supporter in the stadium.

“You must not give in to the psychological, public and media pressure,” he said. “Never give up. The Gulf Cup is your gateway to the world of stardom and professionalism so be patient, keep going and if you suffer defeat, recover and bounce back in the next match. We are all right behind you.”

Formerly known as the Arabian Gulf Cup, the Khaleeji Zain 26 will also see matches played at the Jaber Al-Mubarak International Stadium.

Tickets are now on sale through the Hayakom application, and also through a ticket box office located on the ground floors of the 360 Mall and Avenues Mall. The Khaleeji Zain 26 sees hosts, Kuwait, in Group A with Oman, UAE and Qatar, while reigning champions Iraq join Yemen, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in Group B.