Thursday 09 / May / 2024
Muscat: Oman's national football team has started its training in the city of Basra, Iraq in preparation for its first match against its Iraqi counterpart in the opening of the Arabian Gulf Cup which will start on Friday, January 6, 2023.
The training session was held in the presence of all the players in Training Ground B at Basra International Stadium and focused on raising the level of physical fitness, training guards, shooting, short and long passes, and dribbling between players.
Mohammed Al Musalmi, the national team player, stressed the readiness of the players for the tournament.
"Our goal and focus is to win the opening match, which will be difficult, and we are preparing to come out with a positive result from this match," Al Musalmi said.
Fayez Al Rashidi, the goalkeeper of the Oman national team, said: "The national team list includes many experienced players and youth players, and they are fully prepared. We have great ambition to compete and win in this tournament."
Al Rashidi stressed that the national team's match with its Iraqi counterpart will not be easy because it plays in its land and among its fans."
The Supreme Committee supervising the Gulf Cup finished all preparations for the launch of the tournament.
His Excellency Ahmed Al Mubarqa, the Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sports, said :" The committee has completed all the special requirements and facilities to create the appropriate environment to host the tournament and the participating teams. We are awaiting the arrival of the Gulf fans and from Yemen, with the start of the tournament next Friday."
Regarding the opening ceremony, His Excellency explained that the tournament will be distinguished and the ceremony in general will express Iraq’s civilization, values, culture and customs, and will also reflect the depth of fraternal relations and strengthen the bonds that bind Iraq, the Arab Gulf states and Yemen.
His Excellency the Iraqi Minister said that the opening match that will bring our national team together against its Iraqi counterpart will be enthusiastic and popular.
"Oman national team is one of the important and nominated teams for the tournament, especially with the great level it showed in the last editions of the tournament, as well as the Iraqi national team playing in front of its fans and is ready for the tournament and to present the desired level of it, " Al Mubarqa added.
Al Mubarqa confirmed that the Omani fans began flocking to the city of Basra, where the Organising Committee allocated 4,000 seats for the opening match at the Basra International Stadium.
Mohsen bin Hamad al-Masrouri, Vice President of the Oman Football Association and head of the national team delegation, confirmed in a statement that coordination is ongoing with all concerned authorities and the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Iraq to secure the attendance of the Omani fans to support the national team. Tickets will be available for the opening match.
The squad, led by Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic, includes: Ahmed Al Rawahi, Mohammad Al Musalmi, Juma Al Habsi, Mahmoud Al Mushaifari, Hareb Al Saadi, Salah Al Yahyaei, Fayez Al Rashidi, Ahmed Al Khamisi, Amjad Al Harthy, Ahmed Al Adawi, Essam Al Subhi, Ahmed Al Matroushi, Ibrahim Al Mukhaini, Ahmed Al Kaabi, Moataz Salah Abd Rabbo, Jamil Al Yahmadi, Musaab Al Maamari, Fahmy Beit Dur , Khaled Al Buraiki, Zahri Al Ghabri, Omar Al Maliki, Arshad Al Alawi and Al Mundhir Al Alawi.
