Latest news with #SayyidSulaimanbinHamoodalBusaidy
Observer
a day ago
- Business
- Observer
Next season,14 clubs to play in Omantel League
MUSCAT, JULY 2 The Oman Football Association (OFA) has announced its decision to increase the number of clubs participating in the Omantel League from 12 to 14 teams, starting from the 2025–2026 season. This step aims to enhance the most prominent football competition in the Sultanate of Oman and open the door for more clubs to compete at the highest level, thereby contributing to the technical and organisational development of Omani football. The Association also decided to organise the First Division League and the Olympic League at the governorate level, as part of a broader vision to promote sports decentralisation, expand the base of players and teams, and enable talents across various wilayats to emerge within a competitive environment closer to their local communities. The Association clarified that the decision to increase the number of clubs is the result of a series of urgent meetings and studies conducted by the Board of Directors. The findings indicated that increasing the number of teams would lead to more matches per season, thereby boosting fan attendance and creating more opportunities for competition and technical development for both clubs and players. Based on this decision, the Association has resolved to retain Sur and Ibri clubs in the Omantel League for the upcoming season, despite their results warranting relegation to the First Division. However, their continuation is contingent upon meeting technical and administrative requirements, most importantly obtaining the professional league license issued by the Association after reviewing each club's licensing file. If one or both clubs fail to meet these conditions, the opportunity will be given to the highest-ranked teams in the First Division, provided they fulfill the same requirements. This decision came during a meeting of the Board of Directors held on Tuesday at the Association's headquarters, chaired by Sayyid Sulaiman bin Hamood al Busaidy Chairman of OFA, and attended by the vice-president, board members and the secretary-general. The meeting included discussions on several key matters, most notably the financial situation of the Association, reviewing the general budget, cost-reduction strategies and plans to increase revenue. The Board also discussed activating the work of the standing committees and restructuring them in line with the upcoming phase's requirements. Several technical and administrative committee heads were approved and appointed. The national senior team was also a focal point of the meeting. The Board reviewed the upcoming preparation plan, especially for the intercontinental play-off qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, and preparations for the West Asian Football Federation friendly tournament, which is considered a crucial opportunity for competition and readiness. Several internal and external training camps are also scheduled for the coming period. To support the sustainability of football activity, the Board announced its intention to hold a series of meetings with clubs that had suspended their senior team activities in recent seasons. These meetings aim to explore ways to support and gradually reintegrate them, offering appropriate facilitations within available capacities, particularly on technical and organisational fronts. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board expressed its deep appreciation for the efforts of the previous board, commending their role in maintaining the Association's stability during challenging times. The Board affirmed its commitment to building on past achievements to ensure further progress in the future.
Observer
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Sayyid Sulaiman elected as chairman of OFA
MUSCAT: Sayyid Sulaiman bin Hamood al Busaidy was elected as the new Chairman of the Oman Football Association (OFA) for the 2025–2029 term. Sayyid Sulaiman secured 30 out of 43 votes while his opponent, Dr Jassim bin Mohammed al Shukaili, received 13 votes, during the general assembly meeting on Wednesday. The election, conducted through an advanced digital voting system under supervision of OFA election committee and Fifa representative, witnessed attendance of 43 member clubs present. The process commenced with a roll call and proceeded smoothly under the supervision of the OFA Election Committee and Fifa representative Hasan Hassan, and Shaheen Rahimi from Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Salim al Wahaibi, the former OFA chairman, delivered a speech ahead of the election process, highlighting the achievements of the previous board and emphasising the importance of the next phase of the association to ensure the continuous development of Oman's football. New OFA chairman celebrates after announcing the results In the race for the Vice-Chairman position, Qutaiba bin Said al Ghailani was elected after receiving 22 votes, surpassing Nasr bin Hamood al Wahaibi and Sayyid Musallam bin Salim al Busaidy who received 12 and 9 votes respectively. Hajar bint Khamis al Muzainiyah was elected to the women's representative after gaining 25 votes while her fellow candidate Fatma bint Ibrahim al Fazariyah secured 18 votes. The former Oman Olympic coach and former national team player, Mohammed bin Khamis al Oraimi, was elected as representative of the players in the OFA board. As for the Board Member positions, Abdullah bin Salim al Shanfari, Abdullah bin Ali al Rashdi, and Ali bin Ahmed al Kathiri received 21, 19 and 16 votes respectively. The election process commenced under the supervision of the OFA Election Committee and Fifa representative DOORS OPEN FOR ALL Following his election, Sayyid Sulaiman expressed his gratitude to the General Assembly members for their confidence and support. He also extended appreciation to the outgoing Board, chaired by Al Wahaibi, acknowledging their significant efforts and contributions to Omani football. In his remarks, Al Busaidy highlighted the smooth organisation of the electoral process and praised the work of the Election Committee, in addition to thanking the media for their comprehensive coverage. "The doors of OFA are open to all technical experts and specialists. We will soon form specialised committees and we welcome everyone with the passion and expertise to contribute to the development of Oman's football. Our priorities will focus on elevating the top-tier league, enhancing all domestic competitions, and introducing a new Olympic league. We will work in partnership with the General Assembly to ensure continued progress." Sayyid Sulaiman said Also, he emphasised that the national team will remain the top strategic priority. Hajar al Muzaini (L) wins OFA's women seat 'Oman team are currently in the playoff qualification stage and it is in our top priorities to work for the historic qualification for the Fifa World Cup. There will be a discussions with the technical and coaching staff in the coming days to chart the path forward,' he added 'I already presented my vision for the development of Omani football to the club presidents during pre-election visits across the Sultanate of Oman. However, I refrained from sharing it with the public prior to the elections to ensure full focus on the national team and to maintain neutrality. There is a clear vision and I will share it with the public through a dedicated media and press conference soon," he said.
Observer
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Observer
OFA to elect new chairman today
MUSCAT: The Oman Football Association (OFA) will elect a new chairman and board for the 2025–2029 term on Wednesday. This election will mark 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 new 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. On the domestic front, the new board will be tasked with advancing and enhancing the local competitions including the prestigious His Majesty's Cup, the Omantel League, and youth leagues such as the U-15, U-17, and U-19 categories in addition to the OFA Cup and other grassroots development initiatives. Running for the chairmanship post are Sayyid Sulaiman bin Hamood al Busaidy and Dr Jassim bin Mohammed al Shukaili. Both candidates worked previously in the football career at OFA and the domestic clubs. The candidates who are competing for the vice chairman are Sayyid Musallam bin Salim al Busaidy, Qutaiba bin Said al Ghailani, and Nasr bin Hamood al Wahaibi. Salim al Wahaibi, OFA Chairman For the board membership seats, twelve candidates are contesting from which only three will be selected. These include Hassan bin Abdullah al Ajmi, Said bin Ali al Busaidy, Ali bin Ahmed al Kathiri, Ali bin Abdullah al Raisi, Abdullah bin Salim al Shanfari, Mohammed bin Ali al Maqbali, Abdullah bin Ali al Kamzari, Nasser bin Salim al Haddabi, Abdullah bin Ali al Rashdi, Nasser bin Suleiman al Alawi, Abdullah bin Mohsin al Jabri and Ibrahim bin Murad al Balushi. Mohammed bin Khamis al Oraimi secured the reserved seat representing the Players committee. In the category of the women's seat, the candidates are Fatma bint Ibrahim al Fazariyah and Hajar bint Khamis al Muzainiyah. This year's election marks a significant advancement in the OFA's governance practices as voting will be conducted for the first time via a Fifa-approved electronic and digital system. A dedicated team of technical experts will be on-site to manage the system and ensure a smooth, transparent, and secure voting process. As the association moves toward a new era of leadership, the OFA Chairman Salim al Wahaibi shared a farewell message as he is leaving his post after two consecutive terms. 'After a journey that spanned two consecutive terms since 2016, I hereby announce my departure as chairman of OFA. I have had the honour of serving Omani football from a position of responsibility, navigating an administrative journey filled with challenges and ambitions. I step down from this position, but not from the love, pride, or deep connection I hold for this institution, which will always remain close to my heart. "I sincerely wish the very best to whoever takes on the responsibility next, and I hope they build upon what has been achieved with a renewed spirit, fresh vision and commitment to realising all that we aspire to for Oman, its football, and its supporters," Al Wahaibi said.
