AFC Cup: Rivals' watch – Kuwait SC

Current Team

Kuwait SC are currently coached by Romanian Marin Ion who has been in charge since July 2012 and guided the club to the domestic league and AFC Cup double last season. They have also made a perfect start to their domestic campaign this season with three wins in as many games but face a tougher competition this time as the league has 14 teams while it only had eight or nine participants for the previous seven seasons.

Seven Kuwait SC players were part of the Kuwaiti national team’s last international match while there are many others who are on the fringes of the team. The foreigners are Tunisian internationals Chadi Hammami and Issam Jemaa, Bahrain international Hussain Ali Baba and Brazilian Rogerinho, who has been at the club since 2008. Although the club has been highly successful in home and Asia, Kuwait SC have struggled to attract good crowds for their home AFC Cup matches this season with the average attendance being around 700.

This is how Kuwait SC could line up against East Bengal

Coach Ion likes to play a diamond in midfield with young Shereedah Al Shereedah as the defensive midfielder and Abdullah Al Buraiki at the top just behind the two strikers. The two midfielders (usually Hammami and Waleed Ali) who play just ahead of Al Shereedah are also allowed plenty of freedom and their movement is very flexible, thus making very difficult for the opposition to mark them. The fullbacks are also encouraged to get forward at every opportunity and this is where the Kuwait team could have a weakness as when they lose possession in the opposition’s half the only three outfield players who are behind the ball are the two centre backs and Al Shereedah.

Kuwait SC’s forward line has been in outstanding form in this AFC Cup with Brazilian Rogerinho supporting Tunisia international Jemaa. While Rogerinho likes running the channels, Jemaa usually comes alive inside the box. The strength in depth in their squad is miles ahead of East Bengal’s with coach Ion having an embarrassment of riches especially in midfield and attack.

Key players

Hussain Ali Baba

The highly experienced Bahrain international central defender is in the second season of his second spell at Kuwait SC and will be determined to retain the AFC Cup title. 31-year-old Baba’s class and experience in central defence will be vital for the champions in two-legged semi-final.

Abdullah Al Buraiki

The 26-year-old Kuwait international is usually given a free role behind the two strikers and is quite effective in both creating and scoring goals. Buraiki has netted four times already in this AFC Cup and will be aiming to increase his personal tally against East Bengal.

Rogerinho

The 26-year-old Brazilian is into his sixth season with Kuwait SC and thus has featured in each of their five AFC Cup campaigns. Although he plays as the second striker, Rogerinho, who was adjudged the best player in the last edition, is quite prolific too and has scored five goals in seven starts in this season’s AFC Cup.

Issam Jemaa

Tunisia’s all-time highest scorer is also this edition’s top scorer with 13 goals, which is a record for most goals in one edition since the AFC Cup was revamped in 2009. Jemaa scored seven over two legs against New Radiant in the quarters despite playing for only 106 minutes. East Bengal will need to do something special to stop him.