Fourteen Issue 002 EN

fourteen

T O O TA L L 26

11 2016

the

sports

journal

issue

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The SilverAir Sock ENGINEERED F O R P E RF O RMA NCE DESIGNE D W ITH S O U L

YATHL ETICS.COM

november

News

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Al-Kandari competes in the World Championship Qualifiers for Karting 04

Of The Month The Interview

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The Al-Nusif brothers discuss their aspirations in racing and the Radical Middle East Cup 06

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Some History

National Handball Team wins gold at the 15th Asian Games

Front Cover, Above: Courtesy of Hussein Al Khabbaz

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RECOVERY 25

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Hussien Al Khabbaz describes his journey through Kuwait’s basketball league and his predictions on the upcoming season

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Our Profiles

6 athlete profiles making history at home and abroad 33

University Athletics

Quick-fire questions with the star of the Men’s Soccer League Bader Al Fadhel 35

Too Tall

Highlight

Faisal Al Shawa, sports scientist, introduces Believe Nutrition and Abdulaziz Al Mashaan discuses sports brand +10

Beast Mode

Runner up in the Mr. Olympia competetion, Ahmed Ashkanani, talks to Fourteen about what it takes to achieve and maintain your goals

A Recap

KFA faces a rough road ahead as disputes between clubs continue to grow

A Sporting Revolution

Ahmed Al-Fadhel, political candidate for the National Assembly and former athlete, proposes a brighter future for Kuwaiti sports

Quote, Number, Comment, Top and Flop 05

issue

F EAT U R ES

WARM-UP 03

26 2016

The Event

Gulfrun returns to Kuwait with the 24-hour Karting Endurance Race 37

The Gym

Flare Fitness Wears Blue

NEWS

Suleiman Al Kandari participates in World Championship Qualifiers Suleiman Al-Kandari is competing in the first phase of the World Championship qualifiers for Karting. On the 25th of November at the Bahrain International Circuit, Suleiman will compete with racers from several countries from all over the world in preparation for the world championships next year in France.

The twelve year old’s father, Mohammed Al-Kandari, took a moment to explain their father-son journey through the sport to Fourteen: “This is my son’s first official race. After a full year of training filled with trials in dif-

Al Jarida Newspaper

ferent countries, he has finally finished his training period at a racing academy in London. He has learned a lot and gained valuable information from the different coaches he has worked with, and gotten to practice in different racing circuits and arenas.”

Al Kandari tells the story of how his son joined the sport, already having a relationship with it through his father.

“Growing up Suleiman watched me race as a co-driver in rally races. He loved carrying my trophies and looking at pictures of us on the podium after winning races.

His first test was in the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed circuit, where he proved that he is a good and promising racer. Since then, we have intensified his training and cre-

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ated a schedule for him based on my previous experience. I then set up trials for him in the Bahrain Circuit, and he went out there and performed very well. He impressed and was applauded by many people, some of whom had quite a lot of experience in the sport. Suleiman has been racing there on a monthly basis.”

Al Kandari praised the great moral support he received from Sheikh Ahmed Al-Sabah, President of the Automobile Club, throughout his son’s training in the circuit. He is hoping that the prayers of the Kuwaiti people are answered, as his son aspires to make everyone proud and qualify for the upcoming World Championships.

Written by: Ahmed Al Fadhli

OF THE MONTH

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

85 Number of medals Kuwait has won at the Asian Games since their first participation in 1974.

TWEET OF THE MONTH @Bourisly_M - “The

current crisis in sports today doesn’t seem to have a solution. It is just one of numerous examples of government mismanagement resulting from the personalization of public policy. Ultimately, taking advice from consultants that benefit from calamities.”

19.11.2016 Mohammed Bourislee’s opinion on government sports management

QUOTE OF THE MONTH “It is in Asia’s best interest to consider Kuwait a sick man and out of consciousness. Because, if Kuwaiti football returns and introduces professional laws like the rest of the world, I think that Kuwait is able to annihilate everyone and anyone in Asia.”

Emirati sports analyst Rashed Al Zaabi on Al Majlis TV program - Al Kass TV Station

TOP OF THE MONTH

FLOP OF THE MONTH

Kuwait Football Association (KFA) has lost control

of the football league after the disciplinary committee rejected Al-Arabi and Al-Salmiya’s complaints. More than half a dozen members of the KFA have submitted their resignation including the Vice-President. The Public Authority for Sport intervened to stop Al-Arabi and Al-Salmiya clubs from pulling out of the football league.

Khaled Al Jarallah has been an avid competitor in

the Battle of the East since 2013. This year he won the title “Champion of the Men’s Individual Category.”

Congratulations to Khaled Al Jarallah!

Left: Battle of The East Facebook Page

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THE INTERVIEW

WA D H A R A C I N G Aspiring Kuwaiti racers with their sights set on Le Mans 24

Currently in their 3rd season, Salem and Mohammed Al Nusif are competing in the Radical Middle East Cup as Wadha Racing.

While ranked 5th in the Radical Middle East Cup and still competing for first this year, Wadha Racing have their eyes set on one day participating in the oldest and most prestigious automotive race around, Le Mans 24 in France.

test-driving it after the changes, in Bahrain, and will begin preparations for the third round.

Having taken two years off to fundraise, this season marks a huge step for Salem and Mohammed, as they are running their own car for the first time. In the past they have finished runners up during the Radical Middle East Cup 2013/2014, and would like to take it one step further this year to come home with the title. The racing brothers are looking to gain the most out of their regional participation before traveling to compete in radical races across Europe.

The Radical Middle East Cup is a mini endurance race, a part of the ladder to qualify for the world endurance championship and Le Mans 24. It is made up of six rounds, with two races per round.

Each race is 45 minutes long and in the middle of the race there is a 9 minute stop to switch racers. Salem describes the Radicals this season as the “most competitive by far, in comparison to the previous years.” He adds that they usually only have one car competing with them, “whereas this year, half the grid is capable of winning any given race”. Salem has noticed a few distinct contenders, specifically keeping a watch on “a strong team from Finland, with two cars, who are quite good.”

There are four more rounds and eight more races left for Wadha Racing in the Radical Middle East Cup this season:

After finishing two rounds of the Radical Middle East Cup, Wadha Racing is using the break to make necessary and drastic modifications to the car in order to increase its speed. They will be

Courtesy of Wadha Racing

27th & 28th of January 2017 in Dubai 10th & 11th of February 2017 in Abu Dhabi 10th & 11th of March 2017 in Abu Dhabi 7th & 8th of April in Doha

If you are ever in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Doha during the races, pass by the track, enjoy a beautiful day out, and support the only Kuwaiti racing team participating in the Radical Middle East Cup.

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A RECAP

KFA rejects Al Arabi’s claim A L A R A B I D E C I D E TO W I T H D R AW

After having their claim rejected by the disciplinary committee of the Kuwait Football Association (KFA), the executive board of Al Arabi Club have decided to withdraw from the Kuwait National League.

The Kuwait Football Association’s disciplinary committee was to look into the previous match between Al Arabi and Al Kuwait clubs, as Al Kuwait’s roster for the game included a player who was

Courtesy koora.com

suspended. Al Arabi argued that the score should be reversed and the club granted the points of the match.

However, during a press conference with members of the KFA, Mr. Khaled Al Fadhli, Mr. Saad Al Baghli, the head of the disciplinary committee, and Mr. Saleh Al Qahtani, the KFA’s attorney announced that “the disciplinary committee of the Kuwait Football Association has decided, with no interference whatsoever, to conduct this

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press conference to inform and clarify to the public the rules and regulations that informed our decision.” He went on to say “although article 99 of the competitions regulations is clear but in this case we look at the rules and regulations of the disciplinary committee, who have already made their decision.”

Hazam Maher | Al-Jarida | 23.11.2016

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SOME HISTORY

Yousef Al Fadhli December 14, 2006

“Thankfully we reached the final and were

able to win the trophy, making everyone at home very happy. From the outset, our eyes were on the trophy and our team’s relentless effort brought it home.”

The Kuwait National Handball Team won gold for the first time in the 15th Asian Games in Doha due to the distinguished efforts of Meshal Al-Swailim, Faisal Al Mutairi, and Hussein Al Shammeri.

Toshifumi Kitamura | Getty Images

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THE MOMENT

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Mohammed Al Rabeea Abdulaziz Al Obaid Mohammed Al Rabeea and Abdulaziz Al Obaid wait to begin a rowing race for the Kuwait national team in the doubles 500 meter race at the GCC Tournament on November 12, 2016 in Qatar.

Courtesy of National Rowing Team

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SPORTS REVOLUTION

A SPORTING REVOLUTION The project proposal intended to revolutionize Kuwaiti spor ts

Ahmed Al Fadhel talks to Four teen

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hmed Al Fadhel, a political candidate for the National Assembly, has a new vision for the future of Kuwaiti sports. Through his proposal, he envisions a vibrant, professional, and even money generating sports sector that will replace the current and rather abysmal status of sports we have become accustomed to. Unlike any sports program in the region, Al Fadhel’s proposal not only considers a vast array of sports,

Left: Al Kuwaityah

but the athletes that participate in them, be it professionals or elementary students. Whether you support his political candidacy or not, his proposal is worthy of consideration. The project provides us with a glimpse into a better future for sports across the country, one that we simply cannot afford to ignore. Al Fadhel walks Fourteen through his vision for a new future of sports in Kuwait explaining the structure of this new program and its benefits.

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Introduction

There are 3 elements that make up this project: school sports, governorates’ sports, and professional sports. Each type of sport is then also split into three groups: 1) Football, (2) Indoor Sports including Basketball, Volleyball, and Handball, (3) Individual Sports including Martial Arts, Racket Sports, Track & Field, and Swimming.

The first two groups have the potential to be privatized, while all sports under the third category would continue to be funded by the state. All forms of individual sports would either be

funded by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS) or any other private company in Kuwait. For example, the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) may fund Kuwait’s number one sprinter and sponsor them for one race.

The formula that we intend to follow throughout the project focuses on increasing awareness of sports in Kuwait, with an increase in revenue to follow. It is a self-sufficient cycle that will continue to develop sports across the country. If we are able to increase the audience that watches sports, the price in advertising for these events and broadcasts will also increase. This will lead to a growth in revenue, generated from television rights, which will consequently advance the overall level of sports in Kuwait.

Clubs will work harder to improve and uphold their individual quality as a considerably larger amount of attention is placed on them, feeding back into the cycle that both supports and maintains a much-improved overall quality of Kuwaiti sports.

Therefore, in order to increase the viewership of the sport, we must e sta b l i s h b o t h a T V stat i o n a n d publication that covers the entire sport in all its stages (school level, governorate level, and professional level).

1st School

sports

There are 6 governorates in Kuwait and in each governorate, there will be a league for every sport in all schools.

Schools within the same governorate will compete with one another and the winning school of each sport will qualify to play in a nationwide league. This league would include all 6 champions from all 6 governorates. The nationwide league would also be broadcasted on the TV channel created for this project.

While each school in Kuwait has its own sports facility, they will host matches per the schedule of games. Winners will receive awards and prizes, including both individual and team awards.

2 n d G o v e r n o r at e s

sports

The governorate league will be open to anyone from the age of 16-45 years old.

There are 52 districts in Kuwait and each district will have a team representing them in all sports. Thus, every sport

Al Rai Media Group

will have 52 teams competing. As each district also has both a school and cooperative society, these will also play a vital role in the league’s performance.

The school in each district will be responsible for providing the venue for the matches and the cooperative society will cover all team costs. The Public Authority for Sports (PAS) would be responsible for providing each team with the necessary staff (coaches, assistant coaches, goalkeeper coach, etc.). Similar to the school league, districts within each governorate will compete with one another and the winning district of each sport will qualify to play in a nationwide league. As a part of the loyalty program, the Ministry of Education will encourage schools in each district to attend the matches and support their teams - thus creating a fantastic sporting environment for the league!

The league will be broadcasted on the same TV channel as well, with a total of 1300 players (25 players on each of the 52 teams) gaining great exposure

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and experience, while at the same time, creating a goldmine for professional club scouts.

3rd Professional

sports

All sports club in Kuwait will privatize their teams, no longer being run by a general sporting club. For example, Kazma Club would privatize their football team and be called Kazma Football Club, becoming a separate entity to Kazma Club. Each stadium in Kuwait would follow the Italian football method and share their grounds with a total of 4 privatized teams. Using this system, Kazma Football Club would then share Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium with 3 other football clubs. There are currently 14 stadiums in Kuwait. When each stadium is shared by 4 teams, that will amount to 56 football teams. With 56 teams, you can create 4 divisions made up of 14 teams each.

Each privatized football team will build its own training facility in a different location than their home stadium. For

t h e p ro j e c t p rov i d e s u s w i t h a g l i m p s e i n to a b e t t e r f u t u r e f o r s p o rt s a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y , o n e t h at w e s i m p ly c a n n ot a f f o r d to i g n o r e .

every training facility, the government would issue 20,000-30,000m2 of land for football clubs and 10,000-20,000 m2 of land for indoor sports clubs (2nd group).

Inside each facility, clubs would build 3 fields/courts for each age group, changing rooms, a health center, administration offices, and residential halls. Teams will only use the original stadium outside of their training facility during match days.

Ticket sales and advertisements from the stadiums will be shared amongst the host team and the government (as they still own the stadium), with the team receiving two thirds of the revenue and the government receiving one third.

In addition, each training facility will have the ability to sell or rent the land around it for commercial use (malls, restaurants, convenient stores, etc.). The commercial area outside of the facility will be tied

Ahmed Suroor | KUNA

to The National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprise Development. Thus, the owner of the training facility and the football club will immediately have businesses ready to rent or buy a part of the commercial area.

Achieve

a n d m a i n ta i n t h e success of this project

To achieve all that the program has to offer, it must first be converted into a law that encompasses all its complexities, as well as be added to the Civil Service Commission (CSC). Moreover, two unions will need to be created: a “Professional Players Union” and a “Professional Sports Clubs Union”. As for maintaining the success of the project, once a private investor purchases any of the sports teams, they are given a detailed manual that regulates the activity of the club.

These regulations will include minimum

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wage for players and staff, number and level of foreign players’ permitted, and minimum quality of uniforms for teams.

Not only does this program establish sports leagues for all governorates and schools that are not just competitive but watched by tens of thousands of people, this new approach to Kuwaiti sports will result in dynamic professional sports leagues – leagues made up of 56 sports clubs per sport that are privately owned and independent of the government.

Each club will have individual owners and elects its own administration. There will finally be no need or place government intervention; therefore, there will be no conflict with any international sports federation laws. Never again will Kuwaiti athletes be represented under an Olympic flag and we will finally have a professional system that governs sports worthy of the 21st century.

BEAST MODE

BEAST MODE The first Arab bodybuilder to finish in the top three of the IFBB Mr. Olympia since 1986

The words of Ahmed Ashkanani

M Y B EG I N N I N G

L I F EST Y L E

Growing up I loved sports, but more specifically, I loved bodybuilding. I never thought I would end up bodybuilding competitively, but at the age of 16 I had begun going to the gym, building muscle, cutting, and bulking. 2 years later, my coaches and friends convinced me to join my first competition.

Despite the fact I was only 18 years old and still in high-school, out of 15 contestants I came in 4th place! That experience really inspired me and I was motivated to continue down the competitive road. A year later, I won my first competition ever. I quickly realized the potential I had in bodybuilding and knew I possessed what it takes to become successful. Since then, I have participated in many competitions, always finishing in either first or second place.

Courtesy of Ahmed Ashkanani

I have two training sessions a day that I have to fit around my working hours. I wake up early and start my first training session at 5 am, going back to the gym at 2 pm for my second session after work. After finishing my own training, I teach classes at the gym. I have been doing this for 3 to 4 years and it has become my regular routine.

I love it! It organizes my day, my meals, and my sleeping pattern. However, other areas in my life have suffered as a result of my lifestyle and time commitment to bodybuilding. I spend very little time with family and friends, as I am constantly either at work or in the gym. In the end, everyone has priorities and right now my work and bodybuilding competitions are my priority. I know my friends and family understand.

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I N S P I R AT I O N

I have two people in my life that I always resort to when I need advice: Mr. Bader Boodai and Mr. Ahmad Askar, both of whom are like family to me. They are always by my side and I know if I ever need anything, I can count on them.

As for the world of bodybuilding, during school I had a teacher named Mr. Bader Al Bloushi who was a bodybuilder and someone I greatly admired. He was the first person that made me appreciate the sport. In terms of world-class body builders, in the region I am very fond of Sami Al Hadad and Rami Al Subiey and internationally, definitely Felix Lewis and Phil Heath.

M Y WO R KO U T S C H E D U L E

I divide my workout schedule into six weeks. For the first two weeks, I use heavy weights and less repetition. The next two weeks require medium weights and increased repetition, while the last two weeks are “supersets”. A “superset” is a form of strength training in which

Matthias Busse | IFBB

you move quickly from one exercise to another without taking a break in between.

After completing the six-week workout, I repeat it over and over again. I do always recommend, however, that you change up your training every so often to ensure your muscles don’t get used to a workout and plateau.

“...everyone has priorities, and right now, my work and bodybuilding competitions are my priority. I know my friends and family understand.”

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D I E TA RY S U P P L E M E N T S

In the past, people used to be afraid of using dietary supplements, but thankfully today people are much more educated and know what kind of intake their body needs. In my opinion, any athlete in the world must resort to dietary supplements. Athletes require a much larger intake of protein, amino acid, carbohydrates, vitamins, and fatty acids than a non-athlete. They also require supplements that aid in muscle and joint recovery. This is not possible by depending on meal plans alone, as the body will not recover or progress quickly enough.

However, it is very important to use dietary supplements in the correct dosage and the correct way. Many of the youth today rely on what their friends recommend to them and don’t fully understand that while it may benefit one person, it does not necessarily mean it will work for them. Before taking any kind of supplement, you should always

“It was without a doubt the greatest moment of my life. It was surreal. I still can’t believe what happened. ” ask someone who is educated in this field and know what your body needs. Sadly, many doctors, when turned to about how to take supplements correctly, ask their clients to move away from dietary supplements instead of advising them on proper usage. Thus, many people ignore their doctor’s orders and just test different products on their own. Doctors need to help educate the youth on how to take dietary supplements in a healthy way.

I F B B M R. O LY M P I A

It was without a doubt the greatest moment of my life. It was surreal. I still can’t believe what happened. Every bodybuilder’s dream is to be up on that stage as one of the top 3 finalists at Mr. Olympia.

Matthias Busse | IFBB

It was a fantastic experience from day one. I truly felt like a superstar. The competition lasted four days. During the first day there is an event called “meet the champs”- all of the contestants have their own table with photos and medals and people pass by to meet the contestants, take pictures, autographs, etc. On the second day is the private judging, and on the third day is the main event, “Mr. Olympia Finals”. On the final day they have a closing ceremony, which is when I received the “Rookie of the Year” award.

During the Mr. Olympia Finals when they announced the top 3 contestants, I was placed in the middle, and usually the contestant standing in the middle wins first place. It felt amazing because

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everyone was looking at the new guy who made it to the top 3 and was standing in the best spot between two bodybuilding giants, Flex Lewis (5 time champion) and Jose Raymound.

A few poses later the judges asked me to switch with Flex and that’s when I knew that I would finish in second place. Honestly, even if I had finished in third place, I still would have been very happy. It is indescribable how incredible it feels to be up there on stage alongside the top 2 bodybuilders in the world.

TOO TALL

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T O O TA L L K U WA I T C LU B A N D N AT I O N A L T E A M S TA R O N H I S C A R E E R A S A B A S K E T B A L L P L AY E R A N D P R E D I C T I O N S F O R T H E S E A S O N.

The words of Hussein Al Khabbaz

Courtesy of Hussein Al Khabbaz

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G

rowing up, loving basketball was only natural for me.

My dad is a basketball coach and, unsurprisingly, there was always a hoop around to practice on. I remember going with him to every club he coached. I first began playing with Al Nasr club when I was 8 years old, and back then, there wasn’t even a league for us to play in. Someone would organize some sort of basketball tournament for us once or twice a year so that we had more chances to play. My father later moved to Al Sahel club, but at that time I chose not to go with him and decided to stay at home instead. I didn’t play basketball again until I was around 11 years old.

An invitation from my friend to join him at Kuwait Club re-sparked my love for the game a few years later. I knew that he had been playing there for a while and thought to myself ‘why not?’ When I told my father, who also played basketball for Kuwait Club, that I wanted to join with my friend, he immediately told me to go ahead. That was 16 years ago, and I have been playing with them ever since.

CAREER WITH KUWAIT CLUB I started off with the under 13 team and played throughout all of the age groups, under 14, 16, 18, until finally joining the first team. From the under 14 team to the under 18, we would always win either the league or the cup every season. Unfortunately, that wave of success did not follow me to the first team. We failed to win the league for the first 5 years that I was on the team. At long last, in 2012, we finally broke that unlucky spell and were able to win the league for three years in a row. As a result of winning the league, we qualified to the GCC Basketball Championship where we finished 3rd in the 2014 GCC Basketball Championship in Qatar. The year after that, Kuwait hosted the GCC Basketball Championship and we finished 2nd.

Regrettably, our participation ended the next year alongside all other sports in Kuwait, due to the nationwide suspension that put a number of teams on hold.

My best season at Kuwait Club was definitely 2012 - we won both the league and cup. It was amazing because we went from not winning anything for 5 years to winning the double!

Courtesy of Hussein Al Khabbaz

CAREER WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM It was quite intimidating at first. I was called on to represent the national team when I was a kid, always ending up the youngest on the team by far. I was only 13 years old when I was chosen for the under 18 team, and when I turned 16 years old, was called up for the first team.

I still remember being genuinely scared when finding out I would be playing for the under 18 team. The coach back then was Mr. Mohammed Al Bader, who was known for his temper and being a strict disciplinarian. In the first meeting, I was trembling from how nervous I was. I didn’t play much at that age; I would get a few minutes each game, but I learned a lot from those tournaments.

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Later on, around the age of 19, those experiences paid off. I became much more comfortable on the court and one of the regulars on the team. We participated in several regional competitions, but our best result was finishing in second place during the GCC Basketball Championship 2013. I hope to one day be able to win the gold medal in the GCC Basketball Championship with the national team. While we couldn’t participate in this year’s tournament, I strongly believe that we would have had a very good chance at winning first place.

AMBITIONS I would like to reach the FIBA Asian Champions Cup with Kuwait Club. I am

confident that with the current team we have, we can win the league in Kuwait and qualify to the GCC Basketball Championship. In order to qualify to the FIBA Asian Champions Cup, we must finish first or second in the GCC Basketball Championship and I believe we have what it takes to finish in the top two.

PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT My proudest achievement was being selected at the age of 18 to join the Asian All-Star team during the FIBA Asian Championship. I was invited to play in the All-Star match, but I couldn’t attend because I was held up in a training camp with the club. I am very proud of this achievement, especially because I was selected from players all over the continent.

PLAYING ABROAD After playing a friendly match in Kuwait with a club from the Philippines, I was approached by their coach who told me that he would like me to join their club for the coming season. Although they submitted a formal offer and were very interested, they ended up pulling out because they heard rumors that due to Kuwait’s suspension, if any club signed with a Kuwaiti player they would get fined. Naturally, the club decided to rescind their offer so that they don’t get fined by FIBA Asia.

“MY P R O U D E S T A C H I E V E M E N T WA S B E I N G S E L E C T E D AT T H E A G E O F 18 TO J O I N T H E A S I A N A L L-S TA R T E A M D U R I N G T H E F I B A A S I A N C H A M P I O N S H I P... I WA S S E L E C T E D F R O M P L AY E R S A L L O V E R T H E C O N T I N E N T.”

Courtesy of Hussein Al Khabbaz

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SEASON EXPECTATIONS Last year, we weren’t at our best but still managed to finish in second place. I think we are the favorites to win the title this season. We have a strong team with a new coaching staff and 6 to 7 very promising players that have come up the ranks. In addition, we have signed Fahad Al Subaei from Al Qadsiya, who is an outstanding a player and a great new asset that will help strengthen our team. Although Al Qadsiya are the title holders right now, I expect Kazma to challenge us for the title this year. To be honest though, if we are able to go the whole season without any severe injuries, I don’t think any team has a chance against us.

THE MOMENT

Yousef Al Shatti Yousef Al Shatti jumps over an obstacle in the super elite category of the competitive Spartan Race 2016, in Taranto, Italy on October 29, 2016.

Courtasy of Yousef Al Shatti’s Instagram

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10

HIGHLIGHT

PLUS10,

the store

t h at c o m b i n e s q ua l i t y , f u n c t i o na l i t y , a n d i n d i v i d ua l i t y .

F

rom bags to caps to different accessories, Abdulaziz Al Mashaan has created a unique clothing brand that captures the elegance of the European fashion world and the perfection that you desire.

As his life revolves around football and sports, it only made sense to name the brand after something that represents who he is and what he lives for. The name ‘Plus10’ symbolizes two things: ‘10’ being his jersey number, and the word ‘plus’

Courtesy of Abdulaziz Al Mashaan

implying ‘11’, the number of players on a football field. To Abdulaziz, “playing football is like breathing,” so he sees it as a blessing that he can combine the sport he loves with a project like Plus10.

While production is based in the Netherlands, Aziz has become attached to everything there. In describing his life abroad, he adds that “my colleagues have become my family, and I cherish the relationships I have built. My team there is creative and works with great passion! People in the Netherlands tend to have the knowledge and know-how to develop, produce, and market this type of lifestyle brand.”

He hopes to see Plus10 grow into an international brand, as he has confidence

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that it possesses the quality and potential to reach stores in every corner of the world. The professional football player and fashion designer believes that “Plus10 deserves to be seen by as many people as possible” and wants to “expand the brand into something big, something magical.”

Plus10 is currently in business with stores in Kuwait, Beirut, London, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen. All Plus10 products are sold through their Online store where you can treat yourself to a unique cap or bag that will impress everyone you know.

www.plus10.co

“My team and I have given everything for this first collection, and I firmly believe that anyone who works hard can make their dream come true.�

Courtesy of Abdulaziz Al Mashaan

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HIGHLIGHT

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YO U R B O DY I S A W O R K O F A R T. faisal al shawa the founder of believe nutrition

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s an inspired and motivated athlete, I believe it is only necessary to help transform the lives of others; to help them find their own path to greatness – inside and out. My name is Faisal Alshawa. I’m a certified personal trainer, a performance and corrective exercise specialist, and a sports nutritionist.

Based in Doha, Qatar, I currently work with elite athletes of various sports to help maximize their performance through providing sports science support. Such support entails educating athletes on proper nutrition, recovery from exercise, sleep, travel and supplementation.

Moreover, optimizing player performance through training and performance analysis also makes up my responsibilities.

Working with athletes is my forte. I love to maximize their performance in every way, shape and form. I’m not only referring to professional athletes. If you’re reading this, I consider you an athlete. As Bill Bowerman once said, “If you have a body, you are an athlete.”

Courtesy of Faisal Al Shawa

Health and fitness is my life. It has changed me as an individual. It has been the driving force to being the best I can be.

IT IS WHY I CREATED BELIEVE NUTRITION The biggest challenge I face as a sports scientist is getting people to believe in the power of applying scientific principles to all aspects of their training. Athletes know that poor nutrition, lack of sleep and inappropriate recovery all hinder their performance.

Yet, what they don’t know is how their quality of life and performance can significantly improve when they sprinkle their diet with clean, unprocessed and healthy food, while exercising on a regular basis.

THE NAME ‘BELIEVE NUTRITION’ STEMS FROM THIS BACKDROP I want to help both recreational and competitive athletes to believe in the incredibly empowering effects of well-balanced nutrition and daily exercise. I want to

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instill a desire to consistently lead a sustainable life full of health and happiness. Most importantly, I want to instill the belief of one’s power to bring about change. And it all starts with knowledge.

Our body is a beautifully complex creation. To be able to listen, to understand and to love your body is an unparalleled feeling.

In a simple, informed and scientific way, I aim to change not just your physical well-being, but also your mental well-being. I will teach you how to shape your body and enhance your nutrition and exercise routines to get the results you’ve always wanted.

Your body is a work of art. Let me help you beautifully sculpt it and embrace the feeling of being healthy.

THE MOMENT

Abrar Al Fahad Abrar Al Fahad rows during the 3rd Work Out of the Day (WOD), competing in the annual Battle of the East competition on November 5, 2016.

Courtesy of Battle of the East Facebook Page

HIGHLIGHT

ATHLETE PROFILES SALSABEEL KHALID AL - SAYYAR Meet the six Kuwaiti athletes making history at home and abroad

Track and Field, Heptathlon, and Hurdles Age 20

Gold medal in Arab Championship in Dubai, 2012 Silver Medal in GCC Competition in Oman, 2012 Gold medal in Heptathlon in Bahrain, 2014 Three silver Medals in GCC competitions in Oman and Qatar

SARA BEHBEHANI Tennis Age 27

Award of Best Female Athlete in Kuwait 2013 Gold Medals in Kuwait Open in 2011, 2012, and 2014 Silver Medal in GCC Tournament in Fujairah in 2010 Bronze Medals in Al-Fatat Club Tournament in 2000 & 2001 Bronze Medals in Arab Tournaments in Algeria & Libya 2004, 2011

Top, Bottom: Courtesy of Athletes

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NASER MEFLEH AL - MUTAIRI

NOORA ADEL AL - QAOUD

Third & second place at Kuwait Rally Tournament in 2009, 2016 Second place in Thailand’s Drift Tournament in 2013 Kuwait’s Champion Redbull Drift Competition in 2013, 2014 Ranked 10th in King of Asia Tournament in 2016 Third King of Nation World Championship 2016

Winner of Kuwait’s International Grand Prix competition 2014 Competed in Qatar placing top 5 in the CSI 3* Grand Prix in Al Shaqab 2015 5th place in a 145/150cm Grand Prix in Roosendaal, Holland out of 60 other riders

DHAI YAQOUB AL - MULLA

IBRAHEEM KHALIL AL - KHARSAN

Won numerous gold and silver medals in 100m and 200m races in local competitions Qualified to the Vietnam Asian Indoor Games 2009

Received a 5 Dan black belt from the Kung Fu Federation Gold Medals in National Tournaments in 2008 and 2009 Gold Medals in World Kung Fu Tournament in Portugal, Hungary, Italy, and Kuwait.

Head of the Referee International Federation in Kuwait

Drifting Age 31

Equestrian Show Jumping Age 23

Track and Field Age 27

Top: Courtesy of Naser Al-Mutairi, Bottom: Marian Lacombe

Kung Fu Age 26

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Top, Bottom: Courtesy of athletes

UAAK

UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

University AUM, Freshman Mechanical Engineering Numbers of seasons with AUM 2 seasons (2015 & 2016) Striker Best game played with AUM AUM vs. ACM last season 2015 the match ended 5-2 for AUM Club Al Arabi Club Number of seasons with club 9 seasons Left Wing Best game played with club In 2010 vs. Khaitan Club, we won 10-0 and I scored 8 goals Favorite team accomplishment 3rd place with the national team in the GCC Championship 2014 Favorite individual award Top scorer of the UAAK Men’s Football League 2015

Ali Kamal | Fourteen

BADER TAREQ AL FADHEL Football Age 19

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Courtesy of AUK

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THE EVENT

GulfRun season kicks off with 24HR Karting Endurance

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ULFRUN SEASON IS BACK and kicking off with GulfRun 24HR Karting Endurance 5 that will take place from December 17th to December 19th at the SIRBB Circuit, Kuwait. GulfRun and ProVision Sports Management announced up to 22 teams will take the challenge to participate in the exciting 24 hour long karting endurance race.

Ahmed Al-Majed, of Pro-Vision Sports Management said, “we have a record number of teams competing and look forward to an exciting race at Sirbb Circuit. We witnessed a record breaking number of attendees last year, and have

Courtesy of GulfRun

many exciting events planned on and off-track this year.” Ahmed Al-Mudhaf of GulfRun added that “we have lots in store this season, starting off with GulfRun 24HR Karting Endurance – we have international teams participating this year and look forward to an exciting competition.”

The GulfRun Race follows international regulations and is run in accordance with Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) regulations. The event is part of the Sodi World Series, with teams collecting points on an international level.

Teams are comprised of 4 to 12 drivers, each driving a maximum stint time of

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roughly 2.5 hours. They then periodically switch drivers to keep going for 24 hours of non-stop racing. The GulfRun Karting Endurance Race was first launched in 2011. It was founded to create an exciting competition in Kuwait that aligns with GulfRun’s objective to promote automobile racing and training in a safe and secure environment, as karting is one of the pillars of motorsports.

For more details about GulfRun Karting, please visit: www.gulfrunkarting.com

Courtesy of GulfRun

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THE GYM

FL ARE FITNESS WEARS BLUE

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n Thursday 24th November, Flare Fitness opened its doors and invited the public in for their annual Movember event: Wear Blue and Snatch for a Cause! Both Flare’s male and female gyms held their campaigns simultaneously. Flare’s Movember campaign, created for the public and their members, not only raises awareness about prostate cancer, but also the importance of working out and staying healthy. Fourteen visited the men’s gym in Shuwaikh and enjoyed a lovely evening with Flare’s members and their community partners.

Raising awareness for prostate cancer, Flare’s members and staff all wore their iconic blue Movember t-shirts. The coaches prepared a special training program for the day made up of three team workouts. The training program started by dividing the participants into two teams, and the first workout of the day (WOD) was a fun and simple ball game between both teams. After a short break, everyone started the second WOD, “Snatch for a Cause - Team Edition”. They divided the participants into teams of three and did maximum snatch repetitions with the weight of their choice. Finally, the coaches finished off the training program with the third WOD. The energy and environment Flare’s Movember campaign created was remarkable. Everyone who participated in “Snatch for a Cause” enjoyed a fun workout and felt the full force of Flare’s supportive community.

Fourteen thanks Flare for their ongoing initiative to raise awareness for important causes, specifically, this month’s prostate cancer campaign.

Courtesy of Flare Fitness

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Courtesy of Flare Fitness

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