The Kuwait Gridiron Football National Team will take on the Belgian National team – the Belgian Barbarians – in an international friendly game this Saturday February 7 at the Kuwait University Stadium (Shuwaikh Campus). The game kicks off at 3:30 PM local Kuwait time (7:30 AM EST). So far no live stream is set but they are working on arranging it.
For Kuwait, this is the second game for the national team this year. In April they played their first ever game, against Korea in a qualification for the 2015 IFAF World Championships. Although they lost badly, they gained invaluable experience and enter this contest against Belgium with much higher hopes.
Kuwait National Team after loss to Korea
Head coach Paul Williams leads a young team filled with members of the Kuwait U19 squad eager to develop and grow. This game will give them a chance to see how far they have come.
American Football is growing rapidly in Kuwait. The 2014 U19 IFAF World Championships were held there last year and the event went off smoothly.
The Barbarians are traveling to Kuwait with a 45 man roster. Head coach Lee Rosky has a highly experienced six man coaching staff and his squad is made up of Belgians playing in the Belgian league (from the FAFL and LLFAB) and in the top German league.
Belgian National Team preparing to play Kuwait a couple of weeks ago
Belgium played Holland in July of 2014 losing to the Dutch Lions in the Treasure Cup. After this game, they will be playing Holland again as well as Ireland and one other yet to be confirmed opponent during 2015. Their goal is to play in the 2016 IFAF Europe Group qualifications.
Coach Rosky, who has coached US college and the London Blitz in the UK, brings with him a highly experienced coaching staff which includes Peter Haest (Defensive Coordinator), Pauwel Depreitere (Offensive Coordinator) and positional coaches Allan Verbraeken (quarterbacks), Floris Vanhoof (wide receivers), Kristof Lauriers (running backs), Andreas Brökers (offensive line), Christophe Olenaed (secondary/linebackers), Jean-Marc Bottin (defensive line) and Georgy Baudart (special teams).
Highlights of Kuwait’s qualifying game against Korea last spring.
