Seventh title reaffirms Seeb's dominance in volleyball
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
5 hours ago
- Observer
Junior tennis team begins Arab U14 Championship in Tunisia
MUSCAT: Oman's national junior tennis team will kick off their participation in the Arab Under-14 Championship, hosted by the Tunisian capital from August 17 to 23, with the participation of ten Arab countries competing for the title. The team will be represented by six players in both the boys' and girls' categories. The tournament officially begins today following yesterday's draw for the opening rounds. Over the past two days, our players have completed their preparations through intensive training sessions held on the tournament courts. In addition, the squad benefited greatly from participating in a joint training camp in Egypt, organised by the Oman Tennis Federation. The camp, which lasted three weeks, included a large group of Omani players from different age categories and featured numerous friendly matches and tournaments, providing valuable experience and technical readiness ahead of this championship. The national team's delegation for the U14 competition includes: Ahmed al Balushi (Head of Delegation), Mohammed al Dairi (Team Official), Sufiat Dube (boys' coach), Sergei Persikhin (girls' coach), along with players Moataz al Mazrouei, Abdulrahman al Rahbi and Azan al Busaidy, and female players Arin al Azkawi, Talia al Busaidy and Salma al Riyami. The ten participating countries are: Oman, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Iraq. Junior tennis team begins Arab U14 Championship in Tunisia The matches will be played on clay courts at Marsa Club, presenting a new challenge for Omani players who are more accustomed to hard courts used in official competitions. Speaking about the preparations, Ahmed al Balushi, Head of Delegation, said, 'This participation is very important for our U14 players, as this age group needs such opportunities to gain experience and collect international ranking points. We aim to achieve advanced positions in this championship. The players have prepared well through the Egypt camp, which lasted nearly three weeks, where they were trained and guided by specialists at the Smash Academy.' He added that the championship is crucial for helping players earn ranking points that will serve them in future events. He praised the promising talent within this group and expressed hopes for their success, extending thanks to the Oman Tennis Federation for providing the necessary support and preparation, as well as to the Tunisian Tennis Federation for their cooperation and hospitality. Player Abdulrahman al Rahbi said, "I am very happy to participate in this championship, which brings together a strong field of Arab players. Everyone is striving to achieve top positions and earn ranking points. We are well-prepared after the long camp in Egypt, which gave us strong technical benefits. Now it is up to us to give our best, achieve good results and gain valuable experience from this competition. We hope all players will work hard to deliver their best in this important tournament."
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Masirah, Salalah win openers as U21 League begins
Muscat, Aug 15 The preliminary round of the 2025 Youth Hockey League U21 continues on Friday with two matches. Al Nasr will face Al Ittihad at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah, while Sohar will meet Ahli Sidab at the Sohar Sports Complex. The round will conclude on Sunday with two more games: Sohar will play against Seeb at Sohar Sports Complex and Al Ittihad will face Salalah at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah. In the opening fixtures of the first round, Masirah secured a 3–0 victory over Seeb, while Salalah impressed with a 2–0 win against Al Nasr. In Group B action, Masirah recorded a convincing 3–0 victory over Seeb at the Hockey Oman Stadium in Al Amerat. The game began at a balanced pace, with Masirah having a slight edge as Al Abbas al Nofli and Al Bara al Nofli attempted to establish early dominance. Seeb relied on counterattacks led by Al Waleed al Raisi and Abdulaziz al Hasani. In the 15th minute, Al Abbas al Nofli broke the deadlock with a powerful shot from inside the circle following a precise pass, ending the first quarter 1–0 in Masirah's favour. In the second quarter, Seeb pushed forward seeking an equaliser through the runs of Mohammed al Shibli, but Masirah's defence stood firm. Masirah nearly doubled their lead from a counterattack led by Al Bara al Nofli, but goalkeeper Issa al Raisi made a fine save, keeping the score 1–0 at half-time. The third quarter saw Seeb win several penalty corners, but Masirah goalkeeper Ali al Balushi denied them all. With Seeb pushing forward in the final quarter, Masirah exploited the spaces as Al Bara al Nofli scored the second goal in the 55th minute, followed by Nasser al Nofli adding a third three minutes later, sealing a 3–0 victory and three valuable points. SALALAH BLANK AL NASR In Group C, Salalah earned a 2–0 victory over Al Nasr. The first quarter was evenly matched with both teams creating chances but failing to score. At the start of the second quarter, Salalah came out strong, opening the scoring through Jumaa Matar al Hinai in the 16th minute, before Abdulaziz Ahmed al Rasbi doubled the lead in the 20th minute from a quick counterattack. Al Nasr tried to reduce the deficit through the efforts of Mohammed al Jabri and Deem al Alawi, but Salalah's defence remained solid. The third and fourth quarters passed without a change in the scoreline, giving Salalah a comfortable 2–0 win to kick off their tournament campaign. This year's league features eight clubs divided into three groups. Group A includes Ahli Sidab and Sohar; Group B includes Seeb, Sohar and Masirah; and Group C includes Al Ittihad, Salalah and Al Nasr. The preliminary round is played in a double round-robin format, with the top team from each group advancing to the final stage. Matches are held at hockey fields in sports complexes and the Hockey Oman Stadium in Al Amerat. The final stage follows a single round-robin format, after which the top two teams play a decisive match to determine the league champion. The organising committee has allocated trophies and prizes: the champions receive the league cup, 25 gold medals and a cash prize of RO 2,500; the runner-ups get 25 silver medals and RO 1,500; and the third-placed team receives 25 bronze medals and RO 1,000. Special awards are also presented for best player, best goalkeeper and top-scorer, each including a commemorative gift and a cash prize of 50 rials.
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
RX Sport raises bar for Arab motorsport on global stage
DUBAI: Dubai-based RX Sport is a team led by veteran Emirati champion Rashid al Ketbi and is now raising the bar for motorsport on the international stage. It was founded just one month before the 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. After a career full of his achievements, Al Ketbi decided to use his experience and passion to support and develop Arab talent, especially after he was injured during a round of the FIA European Rally Championship. This passion led the team to compete in the 2024 Dakar Rally, the world's toughest rally, only a few months after its debut in Abu Dhabi. In their second appearance at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the team won the T4 category, solidifying their strong presence. RX Sport's ambitions weren't limited to cross-country and Baja World Cup races. The team has also become a platform for celebrating Arab champions and has welcomed notable names like Yahya al Helei and his son Mansour, as well as Shaikh Khalid al Qassimi for the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. While many racing teams exist in the UAE, they often operate on a local scale. This is where RX Sport stands out: it is the first Emirati team to compete internationally in cross-country and Baja rallies. The team's ambition extends beyond just supporting drivers. It works hard to empower Arab navigators, most notably Khalid al Kindi, a step that affirms its comprehensive commitment to elevating motorsport in the region. AL WAHAIBI COMPETES IN WORLD BAJA Omani rally star Hamad al Wahaibi joined RX Sport to compete in the FIA World Baja Cup this season. Al Wahaibi believes the development of the sport in the region begins with supporting Arab teams, which is why he chose to continue his career under the banner of an Arab team striving for the top. Al Wahaibi is joined by Emirati navigator Khalid al Kindi on some events, resulting in strong performances that have placed them in contention for the SSV title. The pair still have more events this season, as they prepare for next year's racing programme with RX Sport. Rashid al Ketbi shared his journey. He said, "After my accident in the European Championship, which resulted in a broken back, I couldn't stay away from motorsport, a sport that entered my mind and heart in 1992. That's where the idea to establish the team came from, so I could continue facing the challenges of this world." "Today, we are competing in the FIA World Baja Cup with my brother and friend, Omani champion Hamad al Wahaibi. We hold an advanced position after winning the Italian round and achieving second place in the rounds in Spain and Jordan. We are proud to have a champion with Hamad's experience and achievements in our ranks and we look forward to facing future challenges." Al Wahaibi also expressed his pride in joining the team. He said, "I am very happy to be with the RX Sport team. This team is ambitious, promising and has proven its worth and high standing in Arab and international motorsport." "Rashid al Ketbi is very ambitious and passionate about motorsport. He considers this sport the centre of his life and goes to extraordinary lengths to raise the Arab flag high on the international stage. I wish the team all the best and trust that all of their dreams, and Rashid's dreams, will come true in the near future." Khalid al Kindi, who has known Rashid al Ketbi for a long time and says his 'testimony is biased' in his description, spoke about the team's importance, "What distinguishes the team is that it reflects Rashid al Ketbi's passion for motorsports. It's an Emirati team that competes in local and international championships." "The team is also distinguished by its continuous development and its quest to achieve strong results in every round and constantly face new challenges. This was reflected in their participation in the Dakar Rally, in addition to continuously updating the cars to the latest specifications."
