MUSCAT, DEC 26
Eight-time HM Cup winners Al Nasr are keen to brush off their disappointment in the OHA League when they take on 12-time champions Ahli Sidab in the final of the 52nd His Majesty’s Cup hockey championship at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat on Tuesday. The match will kick off at 7 pm.
Shaikh Salim Mustahail al Mashani, Advisor at the Diwan of Royal Court, will be the chief guest for the final.
Al Seeb edged Salalah 6-5 in penalty shoot-out to finish third after the play-off match on Sunday.
After the final round, Al Nasr topped with 13 points, followed by Ahli Sidab in second place with 11 points and qualified for the final.
Al Seeb came in third place with 7 points. Salalah were fourth with 6 points and Bausher finished in fifth place with 5 points. Nizwa came sixth with no points.
Defending champions Sohar failed to get through to the final round from Group A with other three – Al Nasr, Seeb and Bausher advancing to next stage. From Group B, Ahli Sidab, Nizwa and Salalah made it to the final round as Saham were eliminated.
Speaking on the eve of the final, Al Nasr head coach Mohammed al Battrani said they hope to win the title after their disappointment in the OHA League.
“We want to win this edition of HM Cup final as we missed out in the semifinal of the OHA League,” Battrani told a press conference at the Oman Olympic Committee headquarters.
“All our players are in good shape for the final. We are ready to put up a good challenge,” he added.
Ahli Sidab won the OHA League in October after beating Seeb 4-1 in the final. Ahli Sidab thrashed Sohar 6-0 and Seeb edged Al Nasr 2-1 in the semifinals.
Ahli Sidab head coach Aiman al Katheri said his team is in top form. “Our players are in top form. We want to conclude our good performance in this edition of HM Cup with the trophy. We expect a strong match and our players are prepared for it.”
EXCITING ACTION
Oman Hockey Association general secretary Khamis al Rahbi said the teams have presented an exciting version of hockey in this edition.
“We saw the eight teams putting up a good competition in this HM Cup. Now in the final we expect another exciting match between the strong teams of Oman,” the OHA official said.
Tournament director Abdullah al Harrasi congratulated all the teams for their match spirit during the tournament.
“We had some excellent hockey actions till now. The final is expected to be a cracker of a match,” Al Harrasi said.
Ahli Sidab captain Salah bin Nasser al Saadi with their Indian recruit Ravinder Valmiki and Al Nasr skipper Bassim al Durbait with their Indian player Jasjeet Singh also took part in the press conference.
Salah al Saadi said his players are eager to continue their good work. “We are confident to lift the second title of the season after the OHA League,” the Ahli Sidab captain said.
Al Nasr’s Bassim echoed the coach’s sentiments.
“We have a good chance to win the first title for the season. Our boys will work hard for this target,” he said.
Professional players Valmiki and Jasjeet opined the Oman hockey has grown up in terms of technical standards and player skills. “We have been playing the HM Cup for some years now. We can feel the difference in technical standards and match competitions over the years,” the Indian international players said.
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