MUSCAT: The Oman under-17 football team will make their debut in the football competitions of the Gulf Youth Games which will be hosted by UAE during April 16 to May 2. Oman’s chances are very high to capture medals in this event as four teams are only taking part in the football competition including UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain. Oman team, coached by Anwar al Habsi, will conclude their domestic camp on Monday after six days of comprehensive training sessions in Muscat.
During the past couple training sessions, the coaching staff comprised from coach Anwar al Habsi and his assistant Masab al Dhamri, focused on shaping the physical and fitness of the players ahead of the gulf Games tournament especially the junior domestic league concluded few weeks ago by crowning Al Suwaiq as the champions of the league. Hence, the technical staff of the team worked very hard to raise the readiness and raise the technical harmony among the players.
Oman team had played previously with the hosts UAE and Kuwait teams. The junior team camp in Al Ain city in UAE which was held in last February had featured two preparatory games against the hosts UAE. The first game ended for the hosts by 1-0 while the second match finished by a 1-1 draw. Moreover, Oman U17 team had played few months back against Kuwait team in Muscat in last October. Both matches ended with win for Oman by 3-0 and 2-0. It is good indication that Oman’s junior stars have good potential to register and impress in the GCC Gulf Youth Games to claim one of the medals.
The Oman’s football team delegation will travel to UAE on April 14 to commence their official participation on April 16 which will see beginning of the opening round matches while the second round will take place on April 19. The conclusion of the group matches will be on April 22.
The Oman team had concluded recently an external camp in Doha which had featured two warm-up matches against Qatar U17 team and Aspire Academy U16 team. Both the games ended in favour of the hosts team as the first match ended for Qatar at 1-0 and then 2-0 for Aspire Academy in the following encounter.
Besides the Gulf Youth Games in UAE, Oman team will have many other assignments including the AFC Asian U17 Cup qualifiers in October as the AFC U17 Asian Cup will be held in April 2025, while the qualifiers draw will take place in June. The hosts of the finals will be unveiled in June too. In the qualifiers, the topper of the groups besides the best four second placed teams in all the groups will advance to the finals along with the host country.
OMAN U17 SQUAD: Qusai al Mashaykhi, Fahad al Mashaykhi, Ziyad al Mataani, Osama al Maamari, Ali al Suwaidi, Saad al Maamari, Ali al Awaini, Ibrahim al Shamsi, Mudathir al Batrani, Yazen al Khaldi, Abdullah al Saadi, Muath al Hinai, Al Yazen al Balushi, Firas al Saadi, Mohammed al Salhi, Al Waleed al Braidee, Yazeed al Mushaifri, Ahmed al Mayahi, Said al Abadi, Mazin al Yaarubi, Ibrahim al Tamimi, Sulaiman al Kharousi, Al Hassan al Qasmi and Qais Ameen.
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