Omantel League teams upset over second phase fixtures

MUSCAT, Feb 5 - The Oman Football association (OFA) has been widely criticised by the clubs over the Omantel League second phase fixtures. The calendar that has been revised and changed a couple of times will account for a major concern for the clubs’ managers as eight rounds will be played in May only. According to the latest schedule issued by the OFA on Sunday, there will be a surprising break from February 25 to April 14. Then the clubs will have to play eleven rounds (rounds 16-26) in only 48 days, particularly from April 14 to May 31. Week 14 is scheduled to play on February 7 and 8, while week 15 will be played on February 25. The Omantel League clubs also criticised the calendar of the first phase as there were many rounds that played in a break of three days as well as the long break between the two phases which was 63 days from the 27th of November 2017 until the 7th of February 2018. The most challenging thing that the managers of the clubs will face in the second phase of the league is the eight rounds that they will play in May, the last month of the season which will include four rounds during Holy Ramadan month. The Omantel League second phase was scheduled like that because of the Oman national team’s commitment, the external participations of the Omani clubs Dhofar and Al Suwaiq, as well as the maintenance of the playgrounds by the Ministry of Sport Affairs, an OFA official told Oman Daily Observer. Jaber Al Ajmi