LOC20:13
17:13 GMT
The Kuwait national football team in a group photo with Vice-President of Bahrain football association Sheikh Khaled Al-Khalifa
(Changing dateline)
MANAMA, Dec 17 (KUNA) -- Vice-President of Bahrain football association Sheikh Khaled Al-Khalifa said Sunday he was happy with the return of Kuwait football to regional and international competitions, following FIFA's lifting of the ban.
Sheikh Khaled was speaking to KUNA following the arrival of Kuwait national football team to Manama to play a friendly against Bahrain tomorrow, part of prepations for the 23rd Gulf Cup which would be held in Kuwait on December 22.
He said Bahrain was ready to participate in Gulf Cup.
Ahmad Al-Azmi, Director of Kuwait team, said the players were eager to complete preparations for the Gulf Cup as tomorrow's friendly was the first since the lifting of the ban.
Al-Azmi thanked Bahrain for approving the short-notice request for the friendly.
The Technical Committee of the Gulf football Cup said earlier the eight teams taking part in the Gulf Cup would be divided into two groups: the first consisted of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, while the second included Qatar, Yemen, Iraq and Bahrain. (pickup previous)
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