Heads of clubs appreciate Bank Muscat role in sports development

MUSCAT: A number of sports club leaders from teams across the Sultanate of Oman have appreciated and praised Bank Muscat for its very important role in

supporting the youth and local communities in the country.

In particular, they hailed the bank’s pioneering role in enhancing sports, social and community bonding and youth empowerment in Oman. The leaders were reacting to the recent announcement of 20 winners for the 2022 edition of Green Sports whereby Bank Muscat continues to develop new green sports fields.

The scope of Green Sports support for sports teams include greening of football fields with natural or synthetic turf as well as installation of floodlights and water desalination equipment in areas facing problems of water salinity. Bank Muscat’s long-running CSR programme continues to benefit many sports teams across Oman even as the annual programme brings together different generations on the popular platform of sports. This year’s results were announced at the end of a thorough evaluation process, which saw large numbers of teams submitting their applications.

With the announcement of the 2022 winners, the total number of Green Sports beneficiaries has now reached 163 sports teams covering more than 50,000 team members since its inception in 2012.

Pioneering initiative

Speaking after the bank announced the winners for 2022, Sulaiman bin Abdullah al Kharousi, head of the main committee supervising the Green Sports project of the Al Ittihad Sports Team from the Wilayat of Bahla, expressed his heartfelt joy and happiness after his team had emerged a winner in this year’s programme.

He expressed great appreciation and sincere gratitude to the Board of Directors of Bank Muscat and its employees for this excellent CSR initiative, which has a positive impact on tens of thousands of youth and families across Oman. He added that the bank’s efforts in this direction were a clear indicator of the interest and commitment by the bank’s management to support various social and sporting activities in the Sultanate of Oman.

Sulaiman al Kharousi added that the Al Ittihad team would be implementing a lighting system thanks to the support from the bank. He added that Bank Muscat is also well known for its pioneering CSR initiatives and programmes. He wished the bank all success and also thanked all the personnel involved in the project that is making a world of difference to Omani youth.

Developing talent

On his part, Khalifa bin Hamad al Hassani, deputy head of the Athaiba Cultural and Sports Team from the Wilayat of Bausher, said: “We are thrilled to be selected as a winner in Bank Muscat’s Green Sports Programme for 2022. Our team will implement a new lighting system on the field thanks to this support. On behalf of the entire management and members of the Athaiba Cultural and Sports Team, I would like to sincerely thank Bank Muscat on this great occasion. There is no doubt that the bank is leading the way in supporting youth teams and promoting sports in the country. We wish the bank great success in all its projects and all the very best for the future.”

Khalifa al Hassani described Green Sports as one of the most important programmes which is empowering Omani youth as well as strengthening sports infrastructure across Oman. Thanks to the new lighting system which will be provided by the bank, the Athaiba Cultural and Sports Team expects to significantly boost the team’s performance in the coming years and also organise many more events and activities during evenings.

Vital support

Yousef bin Saeed al Maskari, head of the Al Yahmadi Sports and Cultural Team from the Wilayat of Ibra,expressed the happiness of the management and members of the team for being chosen as a winner by the Green Sports 2022 programme. He thanked Bank Muscat on behalf of the entire team for the support which will help implement an artificial grass project for the team’s sports field. He noted that the achievement constitutes an important pillar of support to the team and to the residents of Al Yahmadi village as well as other neighbouring villages. He stressed that the project would serve the community as a whole, thus achieving Bank Muscat’s goal to support different communities across the Sultanate of Oman and develop the infrastructure of Omani sports to world-class standards.

The new development will contribute in the long run to further developing the

capabilities and talents of Omani footballers in both local and international competitions as more and more talent emerges through many such projects at the grassroots level.

Yousef al Maskari also expressed his thanks to the people of Al Yahmadi village and the team’s members for working together to win the bank’s support for their sports project.