Latest news with #RedWarriors
The Star
03-08-2025
- Business
- The Star
Hafiz steps down as president to keep Warriors in A1 Semi Pro League
A new beginning: Former Kelantan Red Warriors president Nik Hafiz Naim Nik (right) shaking hands with newly-appointed CEO Wan Mohd Fajarul Ekram. — KRW PETALING JAYA: Kelantan Red Warriors president Nik Hafiz Naim Nik has taken the drastic step of stepping down to ensure the team's continued participation in the A1 Semi Pro League, which kicked off last Saturday. Hafiz admitted that it was a difficult decision, but one he felt was necessary to avoid risking the collapse of the team after all the efforts that had been poured into building it. He has also relinquished all positions and shareholdings in KRW in a bid to distance the team from any claims linking it to the troubled Kelantan FC. As a result, ownership of the Red Warriors has now been transferred to coffeehouse franchise Nasken Coffee, with Wan Mohd Fajarul Ekram appointed as the club's new chief executive officer. 'When this issue surfaced, it sparked a lot of speculation in the media, particularly linking me to Kelantan FC as a former shareholder. ''Unfortunately, it also affected Red Warriors and led to a suspension by FIFA. 'So I've decided to step aside to help ease the situation and pave the way for the team to return to action in the A1 League,' said Hafiz. The club are currently under investigation by FIFA over allegations that the team are essentially a rebranded version of Kelantan FC, who still have unsettled salary arrears involving several former players and officials. Due to the ongoing investigation, Irfan Bakti's side are not only barred from playing in any matches but have also been unable to register players, with the FIFA-imposed suspension set to remain in place until a decision is announced on Aug 14. Hafiz previously clarified that although he held shares in the club, his stake was limited to just five per cent. The majority was owned by Kelantan FC's main shareholder, entrepreneur Norizam Tukiman, known for his burger business, Zamburger. With his resignation, Hafiz is hoping for a favourable decision from FIFA, which would allow Red Warriors to return to action after their opening two matches against Selangor II today and Seoul Phoenix on Aug 10 had been postponed. 'Kelantan have a strong team in the A1 League and I believe they can go all the way to win the title this year. I will continue to support the club that I hold dear,' he added.
Observer
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Queiroz proud to lead Oman as new coach
MUSCAT: The newly appointed head coach Carlos Queiroz expressed his deep sense of pride and responsibility in leading Oman's national senior football team, calling it a 'great gratitude and huge honour' to be entrusted with such a role. This statement was part of his first official interview published in different channels of the social media accounts of Oman Football Association (OFA) following his appointment and official signing function which took place earlier this week at OFA headquarter in Seeb Stadium. The veteran Portuguese tactician highlighted during the interview passionately about his ambitions, strategic approach and message to Oman's audience and fans. Acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead, Queiroz stated in his initial remarks, 'I understand it is a huge challenge and it is not an easy task. However, it can be better challenge through our work and clear commitment. In my definition, it could be easy and simple as well. At the end of the challenges, you will feel the sweat as the reward after achieving the target through hard work in smart way.' As Red Warriors are gearing up for the decisive final round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to the Fifa World Cup 2026, Queiroz outlined his roadmap to success. ' My plan is to study the current situation thoroughly by reviewing the team, assessing the players, gathering detailed information about our opponents beside building the best preparation plan for our squad. In addition to that, Smart planning, clear goals, team discipline, and ambition will form the core of the best technical strategy, ' he added Coach Queiroz also delivered a heartfelt message to the Omani fans, calling on them to become an active force in the team's journey. 'Be the player No. 12. Wear the national team shirt not only during matches but also during training moments. You are the power behind the team.' Carlos Queiroz, who signed a one-year contract with OFA earlier this week, will bring with him a wealth of global coaching experience. Under his leadership, Red Warriors will enter the forthcoming playoff stage of the Asian qualifiers — Road to 26 with top ambitious as Oman aim for its first-ever appearance at the Fifa World Cup. A press conference has been scheduled for the new coach and his assisting team on August 5 where Coach Queiroz will unveil his full technical program and plans leading up to October's qualifiers.
Observer
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman fall to Qatar in West Asia volleyball championship
MUSCAT: Oman's national men's volleyball team lost to Qatar 3 sets to 1 in their second match of the West Asia Championship, held at the Isa Bin Rashid Hall in Riffa, Kingdom of Bahrain. The match featured clear technical fluctuations, with Oman shining in the third set before Qatar sealed the win with more consistent performance. The Red Warriors started the match energetically, taking an early 4-0 lead thanks to strong performances from Al Juradi and Al Maamari. However, Qatar quickly regained balance, capitalising on defensive errors and poor reception to win the first set 25-19. In the second set, the Qatari team fully dictated the pace. They appeared more organised and composed, while Oman struggled with focus and accuracy in passes and spikes, despite individual efforts from Ismail al Hidi and Saud al Maamari. Oman dropped the set 25-16. The third set saw Oman's best performance of the match. The players entered with determination, showing clear intent to mount a comeback. Ismail al Hidi stood out with several powerful spikes, while Younis al Amri and Saud al Maamari's movements helped establish a 23-21 lead. At the crucial point, Al Hidi returned to seal the set for Oman at 25-23, reviving hopes for a comeback. Despite a promising start to the fourth set, with Mahmoud al Saadi scoring the opening point followed by a strong shot from Al Maamari, individual errors re-emerged, especially in reception and backcourt coverage. This gave the Qataris the edge to regain control. As Oman lost focus midway through the set, Qatar widened the gap and closed the set 25-14, winning the match 3-1. Statistically, Oman scored a total of 79 points, committed 23 unforced errors, missed 6 serves, and registered 7 blocks. The standout performer for Oman was Ismail Al-Hidi, who scored 26 points (24 attack, 1 serve, 1 block) and was named Best Player of the Match despite the defeat. The players entered with determination, showing clear intent to mount a comeback After the match, Ismail al Hidi, a player for the national team, confirmed that the team had played an ideal third half and had come close to a comeback, but that the physical decline and lack of concentration in the fourth half had a significant impact. He added that he had tried to give the team a morale boost through his offensive performance, while also emphasising that the team still had much to offer in the tournament Mohammed al Muqbali acknowledged Qatar's strength, saying, We faced a very organised team. Small details made the difference. We must move past this loss and prepare for what's next. Younis al Amri noted the team's improvement in the third set but admitted the loss of focus afterwards. The tournament is still in its early stages. We'll correct our mistakes and come back better. Despite the loss, Oman still has a chance to recover in upcoming matches. The technical staff and players have pledged to work hard to fix their mistakes and return to winning ways, relying on their fighting spirit and the promising young talents who showed great potential during the match.
Observer
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman drop two spots in Fifa ranking for July
MUSCAT: The national football team dropped two positions in the latest Fifa World Rankings which was released on Thursday. Red Warriors placed at the 79th globally with 1323.91 points compared to 81st position and 1314.41 points in the previous rankings published earlier this year. The updated standings reflect the outcomes of Oman's recent performances in the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 2026, where the Red Warriors faced two crucial encounters that shaped their campaign. Despite a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Jordan in Muscat, the team bounced back in dramatic style as they secured a 1-1 draw against Palestine in their final Group B match, thanks to a late penalty equaliser from striker Issam al Subhi. That decisive goal ensured Oman's progression to the playoff round and keeping their World Cup hopes alive. The team's initially scheduled a comprehensive domestic training camp in Salalah from July 1 to 19, aimed at refining the squad's readiness for the next phase. However, the Oman Football Association (OFA) recently announced the postponement of this camp. In an official statement issued on July 1, the OFA explained that the postponement decision was made in light of an ongoing comprehensive technical and administrative review conducted by its Technical Committee. This internal evaluation is part of the association's broader goal to enhance the quality of work and planning across the national teams. The review includes studying the past performance strategy, assessing the outcomes of the last qualification phase, and aligning the next steps with long-term development objectives for Omani football. The OFA emphasised that this measure is intended to maximise preparation and readiness ahead of major upcoming competitions. Despite the delay in domestic preparations, Oman team still will have a significant international assignment before the playoff stage resumes. The national team is set to participate in the CAFA (Central Asian Football Association) Nations League 2025, a friendly international tournament scheduled from August 26 to September 9, co-hosted by Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Oman drawn into Group A alongside the hosts Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, while Group B featured Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Malaysia. The tournament is expected to provide vital competitive exposure especially as Oman will face teams with varying tactical strengths and styles. The Red Warriors previously took part in the 2023 edition of the CAFA Nations League and are expected to leverage that experience to field a well-prepared squad for this year's edition. All eyes are on the playoff draw which is scheduled to take place on July 17 as Oman will discover their opponent in the final stage of the Asian qualifiers. The playoff round will offer two direct additional qualification spots for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, to be hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Observer
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Sayyid Sulaiman elected OFA Chairman for 2025–2029 term
Muscat: Sayyid Sulaiman bin Hamoud al Busaidi was elected as Chairman of the Oman Football Association (OFA) for the 2025–2029 term during the association's extraordinary general assembly meeting held in Muscat on Wednesday. Sayyid Sulaiman secured the presidency after receiving 30 out of 43 votes cast by the member clubs and stakeholders of the OFA. Eng Qutaiba al Ghailani was elected Vice-Chairman of the OFA's Board of Directors. Meanwhile, this election marked a pivotal moment for the future of Oman's football with the incoming board expected to lead strategic efforts on both domestic and international events. The newly-appointed chairman of OFA and his members will have major responsibilities in the coming period including the national team which are currently in a crucial phase. Red Warriors will aim to secure a historic qualification spot in the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 Playoffs which will take place in coming October. In addition, the national team is scheduled to compete in the Arab Cup and CIS Asian event. At the youth level, the Olympic team will prepare for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers which is an important milestone in Oman's football development pathway.
