Kuwait meets Australia before domestic kick-off

The Kuwait Football Association has announced dates for its four major domestic competitions. Al Arabi defends its Al Khuraifi Cup title when the pre-season compeition kicks off on 7 September with the participation of all the 14 league teams. Kuwait Sports Club will defend its Kuwaiti Premier League title from 23 November through to 2 April 2007. The Crown Prince’s Cup follows next from 5 April - 26 May while the Kuwait Prince’s Cup runs through 29 May to 12 June. “We have taken the opinions of the clubs as well so that their will be no clashes between our dates and their international participation,” KFA Competitions Committee chairman Mubarak Al Mua’asab told AFCMedia.

Kuwait national team coach Mihai Stoichita is planning for the next AFC Asian Cup 2007 qualifier on 16 August in Sydney against Australia. He told AFCMedia that he expected the Socceroos will be in top gear in their own backyard. Kuwait were held to a 1-1 draw on Match Day 1 by Lebanon and a goalless draw against Bahrain in the next.

“It (Australia) is a complete team with enough resources on the bench and even if 10 players retire after the World Cup it doesn't mean much as the team have enough stars in all positions on the pitch,” said the 51-year-old former coach of Armenia. “They play more or less like England as they depend on long balls and are also very strong. I have decided to play against them using 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 formation,” Stoichita said, adding “I am confident of getting a good result against them and I will try to make the players confident as well as both teams stand a 50% chance of winning the match.”