Ivankovic picks squad for Jordan tourney

Oman national football team head coach, Branko Ivankovic, announced on Thursday the probables for the next domestic preparatory camp in Muscat and international friendly tournament in Jordan during September 11 to 27.

A total of 24 players have been called up for the forthcoming camp and international event. The majority of the announced squad featured from Seeb clubs after an impressive show delivered by the team during the previous and ongoing season till now.

The Muscat-based team began the existing season by winning the Super Cup after they had defeated Al Nahda 2-0 and then managed to impress at AFC as they sealed spot in the west zone final of AFC Cup. The squad featured new faces including Mosab al Mamari (Al Rustaq), Mohammed al Amri (Seeb) and return of Hatim al Rushdi (Jordan’s Al Faisaly SC).

Addressing a press conference which was held at Oman Football Association (OFA) headquarters in Seeb on Thursday, the Croatian coach expressed his full satisfaction on the previous period of the national team which featured different assignments and training sessions despite the results.

“The team had played 22 matches including many friendly games besides warm-up sessions. In the forthcoming months, we will have different assignments including taking part at the international friendly tournament in Jordan, Arabian Gulf Cup, West Asian Championship and 2023 AFC Asian Cup,” Ivankovic said.

The Red Warriors will compete at the international friendly tournament in Jordan in September and will feature Oman, hosts Jordan, Iraq and Syria teams. “Oman will play two games on September 23 and 26. It is expected for Oman to have two more warm-up international matches in November. The teams will be announced soon after confirmation. The match against Serbia in November got cancelled after a regret letter from the Serbian side. There are some invitations from many teams to play friendly matches. However, we are reviewing all the requests in order to select the most appropriate encounters that will add more technical value to the players,” the head coach clarified.

Commenting on the new season which began in August, the 68-year-old said: ”It was a good start for the top tier league. Some of the players did not receive the required rest due to their attendance in different assignments including the Military League which was held in summer. However, I am focusing on the young faces and would like them to keep up their top momentum,” he added.

On a query on Seeb captain Eid al Farsi not getting a national team call up despite his top show with the club, Ivankovic said: “The national team doors are always open for any deserving players. Eid is among them and he is well known player. However, I have in this position Arshad al Alawi and Harib al Saadi. One more young face has been called for the same position who is Mosab al Mamari. He will get his chance for evaluation,” the coach concluded.

Squad: Ahmed al Rawahi, Mohammed al Musalami, Juma la Habsi, Mohammed al Amri, Moshin al Ghassani, Salah al Yahyaei, Marwan al Siyabi (Seeb), Harib al Saadi, Fayez al Rushedi, Ahmed al Khamisi, Amjad al Harthi, Essam al Subhi, Khalid al Buraiki (Suwaiq), Ibrahim al Mukhaini, Ahmed al Kaabi, (Al Nahda) Motaz Saleh, Yazeed al Masahni, (Dhofar) Mosab al Mamari, (Al Rustaq) Fahmi Said, (Al Nasr) Jameel al Yahmadi (Qatar’s Al Murkhyia SC), Zaher al Aghbari (Bahrain’s Al Khalidyia SC), Omar al Malki (Bahrain’s Rifaa), Hatim al Rushdi (Jordan’s Al Faisaly SC) and Arshad al Alawi (Kuwait SC).