2 days ago
Oman Hockey begins campaign at Cairo
MUSCAT, JULY 3
The Oman national hockey team kicks off its participation in the International Tri-Nation Friendly Tournament on Saturday, hosted by Egypt from July 4 to 10. The tournament features three participating nations: Egypt, Croatia, and Oman, and follows a round robin format with home and away matches. The 'Red Warriors' of Oman will play four friendly matches, two against each of the Egyptian and Croatian teams. All games are scheduled to take place at the Suez Canal Authority's hockey stadium.
Eighteen players were carefully selected for this campaign following a domestic training camp held at the Rustaq Sports Complex. The squad includes: Khalid al Shaibi, Ibrahim al Farsi, Ahmed al Farsi, Osama bin Ramadan Bait Barzhan, Talal bin Mohammed Bait Hazim, Mohammed al Noufli, Amir al Maashari, Shafi al Shatari, Ayman bin Faraj Madid, Hazza al Balushi, Fahad al Lawati, Faisal bin Awad al Lawan, Al Khader al Noufli, Rashid bin Salem al Fazari, Abdulaziz bin Dawood al Hosani, Osama bin Khamis Bait Fada', and Maitham bin Saif al Wahaibi.
The delegation is headed by Abdulrahman al Balushi, a board member of the Oman Hockey Association. The technical and administrative team includes: Mohammed al Gharabi (National Teams Supervisor), Mohammed Bait Jandal (Head Coach), Salah al Saadi (Assistant Coach), and Wajdi Bait Mabrouk (Technical Data Analyst).
Head coach Mohammed Bait Jandal emphasised that preparations were intensive, covering technical, physical, and tactical aspects. He explained that the training camp focused on improving play in the final third of the field, enhancing quick offensive transitions, and applying high pressure tactics. The player selection was based on strict criteria including tactical discipline, positional versatility, responsiveness to strategies, and performance in the domestic league.
Bait Jandal added "We approach this tournament with a winning mentality. Our main goal is to build a clear identity for the national team and enhance technical readiness ahead of upcoming challenges, especially the Asia Cup scheduled for August in India".
Mohammed al Gharabi, National Teams Supervisor, noted that the tournament is part of a strategic plan developed by the selection committee to prepare the team for the Asia Cup. He explained that preparations began with a domestic camp involving 26 players, who underwent a series of evaluations before the squad was narrowed down to 18.
He stressed that the tournament is a golden opportunity to test player performance in international settings and allows the technical staff to experiment with multiple strategies and identify areas of strength and weakness. He confirmed that the preparation programme extends beyond the tournament, with a domestic camp followed by an overseas camp in India ahead of the Asia Cup.
Team captain Khalid bin Jumaa al Shaibi expressed confidence in his teammates, highlighting the high morale and good team readiness. He emphasised the importance of this tournament in strengthening team chemistry and performance.
Al Shaibi said, Our confidence is rooted in our recent triumph at the Asian Hockey Federation Cup, which motivates us to deliver our best in this tournament. I take pride in the fact that the technical team is entirely Omani, and the trust placed in them is already bearing fruit through the positive results we've seen recently.
The Oman national hockey team carries high ambitions in this tournament not only as a technical rehearsal for the upcoming Asia Cup, but also as an opportunity to elevate Oman's presence on the international hockey scene, supported by ongoing administrative and technical backing, and a strong desire to showcase Omani sports in the best possible light.
