OCA launches National Coaching Course to prepare future coaches

MUSCAT: The Oman Cycling Association (OCA) has taken another significant step toward strengthening the country's cycling development system by organising a foundational coaching course designed to prepare a new generation of Omani cycling coaches capable of leading youth training centres and identifying future champions through modern scientific methods.
The course brought together former riders, aspiring coaches and cycling enthusiasts from across Oman, reflecting the association's long-term commitment to expanding the sport at the grassroots level while establishing a sustainable coaching structure based on internationally recognised training principles.
The programme covered a broad range of technical and educational topics, including the characteristics of successful coaches, athlete identification, physical and technical testing, long-term athlete development, performance evaluation and the integration of modern technology into coaching practices.
Marwan Znagui, coach of Oman's youth and junior national cycling teams and one of the course instructors, emphasised that the primary objective is to create a new generation of qualified coaches who will lead youth development centres and discover talented riders through scientific and evidence-based methods.
'The future of cycling depends on building knowledgeable coaches who understand modern training concepts,' he said. 'The course focuses on talent identification in schools using physical, technical and cycling-specific assessments, while introducing smart technologies that help measure riders' physical capabilities and identify those with the greatest potential.'
Znagui added that coaches must continue learning beyond the classroom by keeping pace with the latest research and scientific developments in sport in general and cycling in particular, stressing that continuous education is essential for long-term success.
Participant Shahab bin Hamad al Qamshoui described the course as a major step forward for cycling in Oman, noting that the sport continues to face challenges due to the limited number of training centers and the high financial costs associated with equipment and bicycles.
'Cycling is an expensive sport and we need greater support to establish more training centers across the country,' he said. 'This course introduces us to modern coaching methods and replaces traditional approaches with scientific athlete selection based on physical measurements and performance tests. Instead of selecting riders randomly, coaches can now identify the best talents from large groups using objective criteria, making player development much more efficient.'

LOCAL TALENT
Coach Waleed al Fahdi praised the OCA for investing in local coaching talent, saying the initiative will provide the qualified personnel needed to manage future cycling centers in every governorate.
'The course has added tremendous value to our coaching knowledge,' he said. 'As cycling continues to grow in Oman and the country hosts major international events, more young people are becoming interested in the sport. When additional training centers are established, we will have qualified Omani coaches ready to guide them and apply proper methods for talent identification, testing and performance evaluation.'
Former national rider and coach Mohammed bin Saif al Jufaili shared his own journey in cycling, recalling how he and fellow riders from Al Sharqiyah North Governorate built competitive teams despite limited financial support and often purchasing their own bicycles.
He explained that his experience inspired him to pursue coaching with the goal of establishing a dedicated cycling centre in Al Sharqiyah North, where young riders can learn the fundamentals of cycling in a structured environment.
'This course has opened a completely new perspective for us,' Al Jufaili said. 'We have learned how to identify talent, design testing programmes, choose appropriate equipment and understand the latest technical and mechanical developments in cycling, my ambition is to establish a training centre that develops young riders from an early age and eventually produces athletes capable of representing Oman on the international stage.'
The coaching course forms part of the OCA's broader strategy to strengthen the sport's technical foundation by empowering Omani coaches with modern knowledge and practical skills. Through initiatives such as this, the association aims to expand participation, establish additional development centres across the Sultanate of Oman and create a sustainable pathway that will nurture the next generation of elite Omani cyclists.