ABU DHABI, Jan 14 (KUNA) -- Kuwait national football team arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sunday to partake in the 18th Gulf Cup Championship, which will be held in the capital Abu Dhabi on January 17-30.
Team's coach Fawzy Ibrahim told KUNA the team held a training camp in Egypt, and played a number of friendly matches against local clubs; latest of which was apposing the Arab Contractors club, which Kuwait won 3-2.
The team finished stern preparations and became ready to compete in the tournament, where the players showed eagerness to perform well in order to cheer up their fans, Ibrahim said. He hoped the team would put up a professional performance that would rise up to Kuwait's football reputation.
Kuwait will play against Yemen in their first match on January 17.
The Kuwaiti squad is in Group A, alongside the host UAE, Yemen and Oman, while Group B includes defending champion Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Bahrain.
The First Gulf Cup tournament was held in Bahrain in 1970 and its title was won by Kuwait who holds a record of nine titles in 1970, 72, 74, 76, 82, 86, 90, 96, and 98.
