Sharjah handball team ready to defend Asian Clubs title in Kuwait
Sharjah handball team readies to defend its Asian Clubs title in Kuwait from June 6–15, 2026, unveiling new Zamalek signings and the ‘A Champion’s Story’ campaign
The Sharjah handball team has officially declared its readiness to defend the Asian Clubs Championship crown at the 28th edition in Kuwait from June 6 to 15, 2026. The club confirmed the squad will travel to a pre-tournament training camp in Kuwait after announcing new reinforcements and a public support campaign. As reigning champions from 2024, Sharjah arrives with high expectations and a clear objective to secure consecutive continental titles.
Club unveils public campaign and new signings
Sharjah launched a fan-focused campaign titled “حكاية بطل لا تنتهي” — translated as “A Champion’s Story That Never Ends” — to rally support ahead of the tournament. The club also announced the short-term acquisition of two players from Egyptian side Zamalek, Gamal Salah and Hisham Salah, specifically to strengthen the roster for the Asian event. Officials described the signings as tactical reinforcements aimed at addressing key positions and adding international experience to the squad.
Board emphasizes institutional backing and historical strength
Mohammed Juma bin Hindi, chairman of Sharjah Sports Club, reiterated the board’s commitment to fully supporting the handball team’s campaign and providing all necessary resources. He highlighted handball as one of the club’s longest-standing success stories and said sustained institutional backing is central to maintaining competitive standards. The leadership framed the Asian title defence as part of a broader programme of sporting excellence across the club’s collective teams.
Preparation timeline and Kuwait training camp revealed
The club revealed a detailed preparation programme that began with intensified training about two weeks prior to the announcement and will continue daily ahead of departure. Sharjah is scheduled to fly to Kuwait on May 31, 2026, to hold a final training camp on site before the June 6 tournament opener. Management said the Kuwait camp is designed to acclimatise players, finalise tactical systems, and stage practice matches against regional opponents.
Technical staff and competitive outlook
Head coach Marcos Tata, the Brazilian tactician leading Sharjah, described the team as fully prepared and said training sessions have been productive in recent days. Tata warned that the 28th Asian Clubs Championship is expected to feature strong opponents and that margins for error will be slim throughout the group and knockout stages. Team supervisor Jassim Mohammed affirmed the technical and administrative teams are coordinating logistics and match preparation to ensure optimal player readiness.
Sponsorship and international exposure highlighted
Sharjah International Airport was announced as a principal sponsor for the handball delegation, a partnership the club said will support travel and operational needs during the Asian campaign. Club officials also noted recent international exposure, pointing to Sharjah’s participation at the IHF Super Globe in Egypt in 2025, where the team finished sixth globally. That experience, they argued, has raised the squad’s competitive standards and familiarity with elite-level play.
Sharjah’s roster planning balances continuity with targeted reinforcement, leaving room for tactical flexibility as the competition approaches. The club’s blend of domestic talent, newly acquired Egyptian internationals, and an experienced coaching staff aims to reproduce the form that secured the 2024 title.
Preparations will shift from domestic training to the Kuwait camp on May 31, providing final opportunities for adjustments ahead of the June 6 start. Sharjah’s supporters and club leadership will watch closely as the team seeks to convert pre-tournament momentum into results on the Asian stage.
The upcoming championship will test Sharjah against top clubs from across the continent, and the club has made clear its objective: to retain the Asian Clubs title and continue the narrative framed by its new campaign. The squad departs for Kuwait at the end of May with a focused plan, strengthened personnel and visible institutional backing as it pursues back-to-back continental success.
