Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Melbourne: Coach Nabil Maaloul insists Kuwait are fully prepared for Friday’s AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 opener with hosts Australia despite the Tunisian only taking charge of the former continental champions three weeks ago. Click here for Maaloul's flash interview
Kuwait only narrowly missed out on a place in the knockout stage of November’s Gulf Cup in Saudi Arabia despite beating Iraq and drawing with the defending champions United Arab Emirates.
But after the 1980 continental champions lost their final group stage outing 5-0 to Oman, Maaloul replaced 2007 AFC Asian Cup-winning coach Jorvan Vieira midway through December to hand the former Tunisia international less than a month to prepare Kuwait to face Australia, Korea Republic and Oman in Group A.
“The preparation period was very short, as I started coaching on December 18. The players have quickly adapted to my way of training which is good. I think the players are very ready to play their first game against Australia tomorrow (Friday),” said Maaloul, who led El Jaish to a runner-up finish in the 2013/14 Qatar Stars League.
“The Gulf Cup did deliver bad results, but we have worked on the players’ self-confidence. I feel like they have forgotten about the Gulf Cup and they are ready to start a new chapter now with the Asian Cup.”
Kuwait lost all three group stage games at the previous AFC Asian Cup in 2011, where Australia in contrast reached the final, and last progressed to the knockout stage in 2000.
“The match will be very new and different; the Kuwait national team doesn’t contain all the same players that played at the last AFC Asian Cup in Qatar,” said Maaloul, who saw his side draw their only friendly 1-1 with Iraq following the Gulf Cup.
“We feel big pressure as a national team, especially as we had a bad last game in the Gulf Cup, but what we care about is the fame of the national team, we represent the people of Kuwait. We hope this pressure turns into a positive pressure.”
Maaloul, though, is certain to be without striker Fahad Al Enzi for the tournament with the striker unable to travel with the squad to Australia.
“Of course he is one of the key players in the national team, but I tried to make a combination in the last three weeks to cover his place, and I found many players to cover his absence,” said Maaloul.
Photo: WSG