Muscat: The second round of the Oman Hockey5s 2024 Championship concluded at the Oman Hockey Field in Al Amerat, with 77 goals scored across 12 matches.
In Group A, the Royal Army team secured a well-deserved 3-1 victory over the Royal Guard, dominating the game. The Badr Al Samaa team also triumphed over FAP with a thrilling 4-3 win in a match that remained intense until the final moments. The Army team continued their strong performance with another win, defeating Badr Al Samaa 3-0, while the Royal Guard secured a big win over FAP with a 9-1 scoreline. The Royal Guard also beat Badr Al Samaa 5-3, and the match between the Army and FAP ended in an exciting 3-3 draw.
In Group B, the Royal Navy team defeated Jindal Shadeed 3-1, while the Al Fayha team earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over Safety and Security. Al Fayha continued their winning streak with a 4-2 victory against Jindal Shadeed, while Safety and Security delivered a major upset by beating the Royal Navy 6-2. The group stage ended with Al Fayha winning 5-1 against the Royal Navy, and Jindal Shadeed overcoming Safety and Security with a 5-3 victory.
The final rounds are scheduled for Wednesday. In the first match, FAP will face the Royal Navy , followed by Badr Al Samaa taking on Jindal Shadeed in the second match. In the third match, the Royal Army will play against Safety and Security, while Al Fayha will compete against the Royal Guard in the fourth. The championship will conclude with a third-place playoff between the losers of the third and fourth matches, and the winners will face off in the final to compete for the title.
Ahmed al Hasani, an accredited referee in the Oman Hockey Association, praised the significance of holding this tournament after a six-year hiatus, emphasising that despite the long break, the championship witnessed a high level of performance. Al Hasani pointed out that the participation of veteran players helped elevate the matches, saying, "Despite the absence of tournaments for years, the experienced players demonstrated their competence and ability to deliver a competitive performance."
Al Hasani also highlighted the importance of continuing such tournaments to improve the skills of both players and referees, noting that organising such events provides opportunities to hone abilities and gain experience. He commended the efforts of the Oman Hockey Association in successfully organising the tournament and expressed hope that it would be a step toward achieving more accomplishments both locally and internationally.
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