Seventh title reaffirms Seeb's dominance in volleyball

Observer

01-05-2025

MUSCAT: Seeb Club reaffirmed their dominance on the local volleyball scene by clinching the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Volleyball Shield for the seventh consecutive time, following a deserved 3-0 victory over Majees in the final match held at the main hall of Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher.
Seeb players expressed their delight with the new achievement. Ahmed al Toubi credited the victory to a well-integrated system within the club, saying: 'Seven consecutive titles don't happen by chance — Seeb know how to make the difference.'
Russian player Bogdan noted that the team had reached its peak performance and attributed the title to strong chemistry and hard work within the squad.
Bogdan, who delivered a consistent performance in the final, remarked that the team had achieved "peak cohesion," emphasising that continuous work despite the pressure of matches led them to this level. Fellow Russian player Artem praised the development of the Omani league, describing the tournament as "full of challenges," and expressed his willingness to continue with the team if asked to stay.
Head coach Jamal al Maamari stated that this was his ninth domestic title, praising the team's collective performance and focus. He added, 'The team has become a formidable force at the Gulf and Arab levels, and we aim to continue shining in the upcoming league final against Al Salam.'
Sayyid Malik bin Shihab Al Said
HH Sayyid Malik bin Shihab al Said, a board member of Seeb Club, congratulated the team on this well-earned achievement, calling it the natural result of years of continuous work and technical and administrative stability. 'We have maintained the same coaching staff and core player lineup, which directly contributed to sustained high performance and positive results,' he said. 'This has been one of the most competitive seasons, especially among the top four teams.'
He added, 'Our ambitions don't stop here we now aim to replicate this success in the league final against Al Salam. We know it will be a tough match, but we are confident in our team's ability to keep up the strong performance and win the title.'
Seventh title reaffirms Seeb's dominance in volleyball
FATIGUE
On the other side, Majees coach Haithem al Waslati attributed the loss to physical fatigue after playing the semifinal less than 24 hours earlier. 'We weren't at our best mentally or physically, and now our focus shifts to the league,' he said a sentiment echoed by several players.
Majees player Hilal al Maqbali pointed out that "match congestion, a short preparation window, and lack of cohesion" significantly impacted the team's performance — especially since a new professional player joined and a new coach took over just two days before the final.
Adam al Jalboobi agreed, stating that 'the team had only one light training session, and the sudden coaching change affected our gameplay.'
From the Oman Volleyball Association (OVA) side, Dr Salam al Toubi, OVA Vice-Chairman, described the championship as successful by all standards. 'We witnessed strong competition among 19 clubs, and the technical level this season was high thanks to the presence of foreign professionals,' he said.
Aisha al Jabri, a board member of the federation, also praised the quality of the matches, noting that the involvement of professional players helped elevate the overall standard. She revealed that the OVA is currently studying mechanisms to better regulate the recruitment of foreign players in a way that benefits the sport in the long-term.