Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: Winning His Majesty's Cup for the eleventh time, Seeb Club ensured that they remain the top hockey team of the Sultanate after clinching a 3-2 verdict against Bausher Club in the final at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher on Monday.
However, this triumph for Seeb came after a big gap with Ahli-Sidab Club and Al Nasr causing a dent in their supremacy.
Coached by Osama Hussain, Seeb appeared determined to regain the prestigious title, but it did not come the easy way as Bausher coached by Ahmed Nasser Al Darmaki put up a strong fight.
However, the final did not live up to the previous encounters between the two teams in earlier rounds.
Seeb and Bausher had played each other twice earlier this season with honours being shared and in the final it was high steam encounter at times and just the opposite otherwise.
Seeb opened the account in the 7th minute through Mohammed Hassan Al Lawati, who deflected a Rizwan Mohammed pass but their lead got nullified three minutes later when Mohanna Nasser Al Hosni sounded the board.
That effort brought life into Bausher's push and Ali Shaan couldn't control his goalmouth attempt and finished with a wayward shot.
With honours even, Seeb bounced back after the breather to pump in two goals through Mohammed Hassan Al Lawati and Qasim Moosa Al Shibli to go 3-1 up in a flash.
Bausher, meanwhile, kept fumbling despite winning short corners.
Playing in their only second final, Bausher came back alive with Mohammed Tauseeq successfully converting the penalty corner.
Only five minutes remained and Bausher almost came close to equalise, but Ali Shan failed to connect a cross and that ended their aspirations of winning the title for the first time.
Bausher coach Ahmed Al Darmaki later conceded that bad short corner conversions cost them dear.
"We were not able to capitalise on the penalty corners and that stole away the chance of winning," said Al Darmaki.
"I must say, Seeb played well and put lot of pressure on us and they deserved to win," he said.
"I will also like to congratulate my boys to have played so well this season and we will surely aim for the title next year," said Al Darmaki.
The fact was that Bausher Club had earned four penalty corners against Seeb's none but could convert only one of them.
Seeb Club's assistant coach Khalid bin Abdulrahman Al Raisi said: "We played according to plan and that worked."
"Having played Bausher twice before, we knew very well what can be expected from them. Our plan was to score early and add two more to the tally and then defend. In a sense the strategy worked and we won," said Khalid Al Raisi.
The match was officiated by FIH umpires Malik Mohammed Haider Rasool of Pakistan and Javed Shaikh of India.
Later in a glittering ceremony, Minister of Higher Education Dr Rawiya bint Saud Al Busaidi gave away the medals and trophies to the top three teams.
Champions Seeb also took home OMR. 40,000 while Bausher were richer by OMR. 25,000.
Ahli-Sidab, who had settled for the third place, had two of their players win individual honours with Rupinder Pal Singh winning the top scorer award with 12 goals and Gassan Gareeb Al Hosni the best goalkeeper.
The team also won OMR. 15,000.
Mohanna Nasser Al Hosni of Bausher was adjudged the best player of the tournament.
Present during the final were Minister of Sports Affairs Shekih Saad bin Mohammed Al Mardhouf Al Saadi, Advisor Ministry of Civil Service Dr Hammad bin Hamad Al Ghaffri, dignitaries from various ministries and sports association along with FIH member and AHF CEO Tayyab Ikram.
AHF medal for Dawood
Former Oman Hockey Association chairman Dawood Ali Al Raisi was on Monday honoured by AHF CEO Tayyab Ikram with an honorary medal.
Speaking after the final on Monday, Tayyab mentioned that the medal was to recognise Dawood Al Raisi's contribution to Oman hockey and his long time service with AHF and FIH.
"This medal constituted by the Asian Hockey Federation is to recognise and honour dedicated service to hockey by individuals," he said.
Honour for OOC Chief
Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) honoured Sheikh Khalid Al Zubair, Chairman of Oman Olympic Committee (OOC), with Distinguished Sports Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of sports in the Sultanate.
The award was presented during a ceremony at OOC premises by AHF CEO 'Dato' Tayyab Ikram, who is also a board member of International Hockey Federation and Member of Development Committee of International Olympic Committee.
"Sheikh Khalid expressed his thanks and appreciation for the recognition accorded to him by the Asian Hockey Federation and highly assed the good efforts and constructive initiatives made by AHF towards promoting hockey sport at the Asian and world levels," a statement from the OOC said.
"Following presentation of the award, the two sides exchanged ideas of mutual concern, particularly with regard to further strengthening the cooperation and coordination between the Asian Hockey Federation and Oman Hockey Association," it added.
