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AFCL - Kuwait League champions
Kuwait Sports Club (KSC) will be looking to translate their local success
into AFC Champions League glory when they host Iran Pro League champions
Saipa Kuwait stadium on Wednesday.
KSC are back-to-back champions of the Kuwait League and they are one point
away from winning the title for the third time in a row, while they recently
won the Kuwait Crown Prince Cup by defeating fellow AFC Champions League
qualifiers Al Qadisiya.
But, while they may be recognised as one of the powerhouses of Kuwait
football in the recent years, KSC failed to qualify from the group stage on
their last two forays in the continental championship.
In their inaugural participation in 2005, they finished third in Group C,
while in last year's competition they finished last in Group B behind
quarter-finalists Al Hilal and Uzbekistan giants Pakhtakor.
The team have been drawn in a tough-looking group this season alongside
Saipa, United Arab Emirates league champions Al Wasl and Iraq's Al Quwa Al
Jawiya, but assistant coach Mohammed Abdullah is confident it will be third
time lucky for his side.
"We have enough information about Saipa and hopefully we can use that in the
match," said Abdullah. "They are one of the top teams in Iran and they have
excellent players who are physically strong.
"It is important for us to win our first match and get the three points in
order to go top of the group, as there will be only one team qualifying from
the group and hopefully that will be us."
The team will be without Bahrain international striker Ala'a Hubail, who was
not registered by the club along with compatriot Abdullah Al Marzooqi and
Croatian coach Rodion Gacanin will rely on Angolan pair Mauro Maurito and
Andre Macanga as well as Tunisian striker Ziad Al Jaziri.
Al Jaziri suffered a slight knock in the team's last match against Al Jahra
although he might be available while defender Samer Al Martah is expected to
replace Al Marzooqi at the heart of the defence.
Saipa arrived in Kuwait city on Sunday and Ali Daei, who was recently chosen
to lead Iran's national team, will rely on the services of Malian duo Alou
and Issa Traore in addition to Brazilian striker Adriano Alves.
Daei, who featured in 2006 AFC Champions League as a player with Saba
Battery, knows how important the game is and will be hoping that his
experience pays dividends on Wednesday.
"The game will not be easy," said Daei. "It will be hard because it will be
the first match for both teams and Kuwait Sports Club is one of the top
teams in Kuwait and they have talented players."
"We are looking for a win from this game because we want to finish top of
the group," added the 38-year-old.
"It is hard to predict who will qualify from the group because all the teams
have similar chances.
"Kuwait Sports Club have seven players who play for the national team and
their coach is also the coach of Kuwait national team," said Daei who will
meet lock horns with Gacanin again when Iran meet Kuwait in the 2010 FIFA
World Cup qualifiers at the end of the month.
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