MUSCAT, JULY 27
Oman U-17 football team is back in action on Wednesday after an absence of one month from the last presence at West Asian U-17 Championships in Jordan. The junior boys, coached by Spanish Pablo Herrero Fernandez and assisted by Anwar al Habsi, resumed training at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher.
The Spanish coach selected 26 players for the internal preparatory camp which began on Wednesday, and will run for five days. The domestic warm up gathering which is under way is part of team’s preparations for the next assignment which is taking part at the AFC U17 Asian qualifiers. Muscat will host the qualifiers of group C of AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023. The qualifiers will take place from October 1 to 9 in Muscat. The group will feature Iraq, Qatar, Lebanon, Bahrain and the hosts Oman. The 10 group winners and five best second placed teams will join in the finals.
Oman team had ended their campaign at West Asian U-17 Championships which was held in Jordan last month from the group stages. The team suffered three consecutive defeats in the event. The first 1-0 loss was against the hosts Jordan in the opener and then against Iraqi team 2-0 in the penultimate match. In the concluding fixture, Yemen trashed Oman team 4-0.
Despite an early departure for the team from the group round, the West Asian Championships was a vital opportunity for the team players to enter into the real regional and international assignment. Playing against top Asian teams assisted the players to gain more experience. It is expected that the coaching staff will also work on enhancing technical skills and improve on the weakness. Moreover, the forthcoming friendly games will build up the harmony among the players and prepare them for the next Asian qualifiers.
Oman Squad: Mohammed al Sameen, Al Harith al Mashakyei, Ali al Alawi, Yasser al Balushi, Awad al Mashakyei, Tamim al Buraiki, Moamin al Souli, Anas al Ghadani, Jassim Fakhri, Fahad Rabee, Emad al Rawahi, Adnan al Mushefri, Ishaq al Shaqsi, Taha al Hinai, Abdulnasser al Hasani, Mohammed al Balushi, Al Haitham al Shukaili, Hamed al Shuraiqi, Sayaf Mahfiudh, Mohammed al Hajri and Ali al Ghailani.
