Al Hamra beat Dhank to emerge champions

Muscat: Al Hamra Club were crowned champions of the Second Division Volleyball League 2025-26 after a 3–1 victory over Dhank Club in the final at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher on Monday night. The game was played under the auspices of Khalid bin Salem al Midalawi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sur Club, in front of a large crowd.
The final was highly competitive with both teams exchanging control in the early sets before Al Hamra asserted their superiority in the decisive moments through tactical discipline, defensive solidity and capitalising on their opponents’ mistakes. Al Hamra took the opening set 25–19, then extended their lead by winning an exciting second set 28–26 after a long battle for points. Dhank fought back strongly in the third set, reducing the gap by winning 25–22 and pushing the match into a fourth set.
In the final set, Al Hamra took control from the start, benefiting from service errors and strong blocking to take a 5–2 lead through their foreign players Maxim Kossa and Russian Miguel Rafel. They extended their advantage to 11–5 and 15–6 thanks to high concentration and attacking efficiency. Despite Dhank’s attempts to fight back through Ahmed al Yahyai and Nasser al Saadi, Al Hamra maintained their dominance and closed the set 25–15 to secure the championship.

AL ITTIHAD THIRD
In the third-place playoff, Al Ittihad Club claimed the bronze medal after defeating Mirbat 3–0 (25–13, 25–22, 26–24) in a match characterised by competitiveness and a strong desire from both teams to finish the season in a high position.
Al Hamra and Dhank had both reached the final after Al Hamra defeated Mirbat and Dhank overcame Al Ittihad in the semifinals, confirming both clubs’ promotion to the First Division for the 2026-27 season.
Following the match, Khalid bin Salem al Midalawi presented the awards. Al Hamra received the championship trophy and gold medals, Dhank finished second with silver medals, while Al Ittihad secured third place and the bronze medals.

Al Hamra head coach Mohammed bin Abdullah al Qamshoui expressed his great happiness with the achievement, describing it as a historic milestone for the club in its first participation since its establishment. He said the title did not come by chance, but was the result of strong preparation, significant administrative support, and continuous efforts by the technical staff and players throughout the season.
He added that this season’s Second Division was highly competitive, with teams closely matched, making every match difficult and decisive. He noted that the final against Dhank was especially tough due to the quality of their players.
Al Hamra relied mainly on local players before bringing in foreign professionals in the later stages, which required time for team chemistry, but the squad ultimately succeeded in achieving its goal.

Meanwhile, Dhank assistant coach Qais bin Saleh al Toubi said that reaching the final in the club’s first Second Division campaign was an important achievement and a major step forward. He congratulated Al Hamra on their deserved title, adding that the experience gave Dhank players valuable exposure against strong teams, which will benefit them in the First Division.
Al Toubi also pointed out that the short league duration was one of the main challenges, as it does not allow teams enough time for physical and technical preparation compared to longer Gulf leagues. He noted that the group system and travel between governorates added further pressure. He also criticised the large number of foreign players in some teams, saying it limits the development of local players and affects national teams, even though he acknowledged that Al Hamra’s professionals were decisive in the crucial moments.