Jaber returns to revive Air Force’s fortunes

MUSCAT: Rasheed Jaber has been handed the task of restoring Air Force Club’s (Al Quwa Al Jawiya) winning form after the Iraqi side turned to their title-winning Omani coach following a difficult start to their domestic and continental campaigns.
The club announced his appointment as head coach, replacing Tunisia’s Fathi Jebal and reuniting Jaber with the team he guided to the Iraq Stars League title last season.
His return comes with the defending champions struggling to build momentum. Air Force collected seven points from their opening seven league matches, recording one victory, four draws and two defeats. That return has placed an early emphasis on recovery for a side accustomed to challenging for honours.
Their continental campaign also began with disappointment. Air Force lost 1–0 away to Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana in the AFC Champions League Elite on September 14, with Zoran Marusic scoring the decisive goal in the 83rd minute. The Iraqi side managed only one shot on target, underlining the attacking improvement required alongside greater consistency in the league.
Jaber’s previous success gives the appointment particular significance. Having delivered the league crown, he returns with first-hand knowledge of the club’s expectations and the demands of Iraqi football. The immediate challenge will be to translate that familiarity into results while assessing a squad whose early performances have fallen short of expectations.
The Omani coach also brings experience of continental success. In 2022, he guided Seeb to the AFC Cup title with a 3–0 victory over Kuala Lumpur City in Malaysia, making them the first Omani club to win an Asian title. That achievement remains a major landmark in his coaching career.

PLAYER RECRUITMENT
Recruitment is expected to feature prominently in his latest assignment. Reports preceding his appointment indicated that Jaber sought control over technical decisions and a leading role in the winter transfer window, alongside responsibility for shaping the squad for next season.
According to media reports, the discussions included plans to recruit five players and release five foreign players currently in the squad. The newspapers also reported that Jaber wanted to select domestic recruits himself, with the changes guided by his assessment of the team’s needs.
Those reported plans point towards changes beyond the coaching appointment. Before the winter window, however, Jaber will need to improve results with the players already available, rebuild confidence and establish greater cohesion across a demanding domestic and Asian schedule.
He is expected to begin work upon arriving in Baghdad, with his assessment of the squad set to determine the priorities for the next phase of Air Force’s season.