MUSCAT: The Oman Basketball Association (OBA) has signed Iranian coach Naima El Sadat to lead the women’s team during the next stage.
The signing of the contract came in the presence of Dr Ali bin Salam al Yarubi, OBA Vice-Chairman, and Rabie bin Saeed Awlad Thani, OBA Secretary-General.
Naima, a former coach of Qatar, has a good experience in coaching. She will supervise the women’s basketball team until the end of next May, and this includes preparing for the team’s participation in the triple basketball championship in Kuwait in the third Gulf Games.
Naima expressed her happiness to work with the OBA, explaining that she began working in the association as a specialist, confirming her readiness to lead the team during the next stage.
“We had developed an appropriate plan to develop women’s basketball in the Sultanate of Oman to participate in the Gulf Games in Kuwait,” she said.
The Iran coach said the tri-basketball is the easiest game in the Sultanate of Oman compared to five-a-side basketball, which requires more players in addition to more preparation period.
“At this moment, the time is insufficient to prepare for a five-a-side basketball event, given that the tournament will be held in less than two months from now.”
“We will give our best in the GCC tournament. We will prepare well to give challenge to other teams,” Naima added.
The women’s team is currently training on a daily basis at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher.
After the end of Ramadan, there will be a closed camp in which some teams will be hosted to play friendly matches with the tri-basket teams before travelling to Kuwait.
Oman are likely to play preparation matches with Iran and Turkey, in addition to some local teams.
The Women’s Committee has made a plan with the participation of women’s teams for the next three years, noting that the Women’s Committee obtained a grant from the Asian Confederation to implement the plan in addition to applying for another grant. They are set for future benefits over the next three years.
