Latest news with #OmanFootballAssociation
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times of Oman
OFA setes outstanding players at Omantel League 2024-2025 season's finale
Muscat: Oman Football Association (OFA) on Thursday marked the conclusion of Omantel League 2024-2025 sports season's finale. The ceremony, held under the auspices of OFA Chairman Salim Said Al Wahaibi, took place in the Wilayat of A'Seeb The ceremony included a visual presentation about Omantel League's most prominent events, the season's statistics, the announcement of winners of the 'Best' awards during the 2024-2025 Omantel League season, as well as the candidates for the "Star of the Season Award".
Observer
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman to play Niger, Lebanon in May
MUSCAT, MAY 6 The Oman national football team will take on Niger in a preparatory match on May 20 in Muscat and it will be followed with another warm-up game against Lebanon on May 28. The friendly matches were announced by the Oman Football Association through its X account. The ties are part of the Red Warriors' preparations for 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers. In June, the Red Warriors will play the two decisive remaining matches in the qualifiers. First will be against Jordan in Muscat on June 5 while the following encounter will be against Palestine on June 10 in an away match. According to the OFA, the final squad selected by head coach Rasheed Jaber will be announced after the last round of the top-tier domestic league on May 8. The Sultanate of Oman's football team managed to boost their hopes for both automatic and playoff spot qualification to the 2026 Fifa World Cup following their essential 1-0 win over the hosts Kuwait and the last draw against South Korea in last March. Oman are currently in fourth place with 10 points from eight matches and have a six-point gap with group toppers South Korea with two rounds remaining.
Observer
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Observer
OFA backs Al Kaaf after exclusion from 2025 Fifa Club World Cup list
MUSCAT: The Oman Football Association (OFA) has announced an official statement to provide their full support for international referee Ahmed al Kaaf and his umpiring team including Abubaker al Amari and Rashid al Ghaithi following Al Kaaf's exclusion from officiating in the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup. The OFA said in a statement: 'The OFA expresses its denouncement of the exclusion of the Omani international refereeing team, led by referee Ahmed al Kaaf, from the list of referees for the Fifa Club World Cup. The Association reaffirms its full support for the Omani refereeing team in achieving their legitimate right to participate in major Fifa tournaments, most notably the World Cup 2026.' 'The Oman Football Association's Chairman held a phone call with the President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), during which he expressed his surprise at the exclusion of international referee Ahmed al Kaf from the list. He also mentioned the unusual circumstances surrounding his previous exclusion from the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022, despite his high caliber and extensive experience.' 'In his call, the OFA chairman reaffirmed his confidence in the abilities of referee Ahmed al Kaaf, pointing to the significant tasks he was entrusted with by the AFC to officiate prominent international matches, which he handled with professionalism and competence. The OFA chairman also called on the AFC Referees Committee's criteria for selecting referees for such major tournaments to be revealed, calling for greater clarity on the matter and for the selection of the appointed referees to be carefully evaluated, particularly since Ahmed al Kaaf is considered one of the most prominent candidates to participate in the World Cup 2026,' OFA statement clarified. On the other side, the General Secretary of OFA communicated with the Director of the Referees Department at the AFC and during the call, he confirmed the eligibility of referee Ahmed al Kaaf and his team to be included on the Fifa Club World Cup referees list. He called for clarification of the reasons for the exclusion and the disclosure of the selection criteria, the statement added. 'In conclusion, OFA appreciates the great support of the Omani fans and the local sports media for the national refereeing team; and renews its full commitment to continue supporting international referee Ahmed al Kaaf and his team; and to defend their legitimate right to be included in the list of World Cup referees, by taking all approved measures and procedures, believing in their high competence and ability to represent the Sultanate of Oman in the best way in international forums,' the statement ended. On Tuesday, the Fifa announced the match officials list who are appointed for landmark Fifa Club World Cup 2025 without an Omani umpiring team. Al Kaaf, who hails from Salalah, was among the initial nominated referees for Fifa World Cup in the beginning of 2024. Furthermore, Oman's umpiring team led by Al Kaaf officiated in the last edition of the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar last year and they delivered an outstanding performance. Furthermore, they took part in officiating many major Asian matches and events including: AFC Elite Cup, AFC U-23 Asian Cup, AFC Champions league and other essential final matches. Also, Oman's Al Kaaf took part in several workshops organised by Fifa last year including the gathering in Dubai city in January.
Observer
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Omani referee nominates to Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup 2025
MUSCAT: Oman's intentional referee, Falah al Balushi, has been nominated to officiate in Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025, scheduled to be held in Seychelles from May 1 to 11, 2025 in Victoria, Mahé island. The 16 qualified teams will be drawn into four groups of four. The two in each group will reach the knockout phase in which quarter-finals, semi-finals, a third-place play-off and final will ensue. Oman beach soccer team is among the Asian teams which will vie for spot in the World Cup during the AFC Asian qualifiers in Thailand during March 20 to 30. The selection of Oman's umpire Falah al Balushi marks a significant milestone in his refereeing career fulfiling a long held ambition to be part of the sport's most prestigious global event. 'Definitely for any referee, officiating at the world's biggest tournament is the ultimate goal from the moment they earn their international badge. As I had received my Fifa referee badge in 2016, my focus has been on setting clear goals and working tirelessly to achieve them. This selection is a testament to years of effort, dedication and continuous development including technically and physically," said Falah. Falah will appear for the first time ever in the upcoming Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup and will be available on the grand stage as a reward for his commitment to the profession. Omani referee nominates to Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup 2025 Key Milestones 'I used to be an active umpire and involved in various tournaments under the Oman Football Association umbrella. Since obtaining the international referee badge in 2016, I could manage to build up an impressive portfolio of officiating experiences at local, regional and international levels,' he added 'My main referring stations were in Arab Tournaments including the Arab Beach Soccer Championship in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt and another significant event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. At the regional championships, I had officiated in two Oceania Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifiers as the first was in Tahiti in 2022 and then in the Solomon Islands last year. In the Asian Competitions, I took part as an official umpire in the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup & World Cup Qualifiers for four times including this year qualifiers which are set to begin on March 20 in Thailand. My accompanying referee from Oman Zakariya al Hinai will join me in this Asian assignment,' he said 'I attended in several International events to extend my experience to globally recognised championships including the Intercontinental Cup in Dubai and the prestigious Neom International Tournament in Saudi Arabia,' he added Talented referees 'Oman has many talented referees and with the right exposure, they can achieve great success on the international stage. The media support for Omani referees is very crucial as it will support them in advocating for greater recognition of their efforts. My attendance at the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup 2025 is not a personal achievement but a testament to the growing presence of Omani officials in global football,' he ended
Times of Oman
04-03-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Oman Football Association and Jindal Shadeed inaugurate the first talent centre in Sohar
Muscat: As part of its ongoing efforts to develop Omani football and nurture a new generation of talented players, the Oman Football Association (OFA), in a strategic partnership with Jindal Shadeed Iron & Steel, has inaugurated the first Jindal-OFA Talent Centre in Sohar. Jindal Shadeed has supported the project as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives and will open a total of 10 Talent Centres across Oman. This inauguration marks a key milestone in the OFA's strategy to establish an integrated system for identifying and developing football talents. The Association, along with Jindal Shadeed, aims to create a network of Talent Centres across various governorates in the Sultanate, ensuring a modern training environment that provides young players with the opportunities to grow and progress according to professional standards. Preparing a generation for the future The Talent Centre is designed to prepare young players for local and international competitions, enhance their technical and physical abilities, and contribute to the future success of the Oman National Team. This initiative is a crucial step in the OFA's vision to develop youth football, leveraging available sports resources to build a strong foundation of players capable of competing at the highest levels. A vision for the future In his speech at the inauguration, Mohammed bin Sulaiman bin Mohammed Al-Yahmadi, the Secretary-General of the Oman Football Association, emphasized the significance of this center in the journey of football development in Oman. He stated: "We believe that investing in young talents is the key to sustainable success in Omani football. Through these centers, we aim to provide a modern training environment that will help shape a generation capable of competing regionally and internationally." Support from the private sector On behalf of Jindal Shadeed Iron & Steel, Harssha Shetty, the company's CEO, expressed his pride in supporting this project, saying: "We are excited that Jindal-OFA Talent Centre is being inaugurated in Oman's Steel City - Sohar. The Sohar Training Centre—the second among the ten centers being sponsored by Jindal Shadeed in association with OFA and under FIFA's technical guidelines—will fuel the region's passion for football and lay a strong foundation for grassroots talent development. This state-of-the-art Centre reinforces our commitment to one of the key pillars of Oman Vision 2040 – Youth and Sports. The state-of-the-art facilities and pedagogy at the Centre will identify and nurture local talent, ensuring that our youth have every opportunity to shine and become the future of Oman football on the global stage. True change begins at home, and today, we are taking a decisive step toward that brighter future." Centre facilities and training programmes The Talent Centre in Sohar is equipped with state-of-the-art football pitches, modern training halls, and specialised training programmes overseen by certified local and international coaches. The centre offers tailored programmes for different age groups, focusing on the technical, physical, and psychological development of young players. The centre officially began accepting young players last week, opening registration for aspiring footballers eager to join the training programmes and take advantage of the opportunities provided. The Talent Centre project: A comprehensive vision for Omani football development The inauguration of the Sohar Talent Centre is part of a broader initiative launched by the Oman Football Association to establish multiple talent centres across the Sultanate. The goal is to build a strong pipeline of skilled players and prepare them for professional football careers through structured and high-standard development programmes. The project aims to achieve several key objectives, including: Expanding football participation by providing equal training opportunities for young talents across various regions. Enhancing the quality of coaching and training by recruiting qualified coaching staff and implementing modern training methodologies. Strengthening the national teams by developing a strong talent pool capable of representing Oman in regional and international competitions. Fostering partnerships with the private sector to ensure the sustainability of the initiative and leverage available resources for the advancement of Omani football. The OFA, along with Jindal Shadeed is committed to expanding this project further by establishing additional Talent Centres in the future, increasing the opportunities for young players nationwide, and preparing them for professional careers at the highest levels. Future plans The event concluded with a tour of the Talent Centre's facilities, where attendees expressed their admiration for the world-class infrastructure and advanced equipment designed to support emerging football talents. The Oman Football Association reaffirmed its commitment to expanding this initiative by launching similar centres across different regions of the Sultanate.
