Kuwait Club announced the appointment of Argentine coach Rubin Velochin along with the signing of Brazilian outside hitter Marcus Junior as part of a squad overhaul for the upcoming men’s volleyball season. Velochin is set to arrive in Kuwait on August 23 while Marcus Junior will join on August 20, according to the club. The moves also include free transfers for Abdulaziz Shaker from Kazma and Talal Al-Salman from Al-Arabi as the club targets all available titles in domestic and regional competition.
Rubin Velochin brings extensive international coaching experience to the position after leading the national teams of Bahrain, Pakistan and Venezuela. He has also guided clubs in Germany and Hungary, the club said in its statement detailing the appointment. His background is viewed as key to implementing advanced tactical systems within the Kuwaiti roster.
Marcus Junior arrives with professional experience from leagues in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Libya where he featured as an outside hitter. The Brazilian reinforcement is expected to enhance the team’s attacking options during the 2026-27 season. Contract specifics for the new signing were not released in the announcement.
The addition of Shaker and Al-Salman strengthens the local contingent with players already familiar with the demands of the Kuwait Volleyball League. Both transfers were completed without fees as the club builds a balanced mix of domestic and foreign talent. League competition has grown more intense with rising standards across Gulf clubs in recent years.
Kuwait Club secured bronze at the 4th West Asian Men’s Volleyball Clubs Championship hosted in Kuwait earlier this year, a tournament where Qatar’s Al-Rayyan claimed the title for the fourth straight time according to the International Volleyball Federation. The current squad changes aim to build on that regional showing as the club pursues further success. Kuwaiti volleyball has benefited from increased investment and participation in Asian and Arab competitions organized by the relevant federations.
Separately the club’s youth team fell 3-0 to Bahrain during its opening match in the Arab Championship. The junior side is scheduled to face Jordan at 5pm on Wednesday before meeting Algeria in the following fixture. Such youth tournaments provide critical competitive exposure for developing players who may advance to the senior roster in future seasons.
The strategic recruitment reflects broader trends in Kuwaiti sport where clubs increasingly combine overseas expertise with established local athletes to elevate performance levels. Volleyball governing bodies in the region have noted rising participation and infrastructure improvements that support these professional approaches. The 2026-27 season is poised to test the impact of these changes across league and cup competitions.
