Oman face Algeria in Arab volleyball opener

MUSCAT: Oman’s men’s national volleyball team open their campaign at the 24th Arab Men’s Volleyball Championship against Algeria on Tuesday, October 6, looking to make a winning start to the six-team competition in Amman.
The match begins at 6 pm Oman time at the Arena Hall in Al Hussein Youth City. Oman join hosts Jordan, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain in the tournament, which features a single round-robin preliminary stage, with the top four advancing to the semifinals.
Under Tunisian head coach Nizar Chekili, Oman completed a training camp at Sohar Sports Complex following their participation in the Asian championship in Japan. The programme focused on improving physical readiness, correcting technical shortcomings and refining the team’s tactical approach ahead of the Arab competition.

Assistant coach Hamid al Maqbali said the squad were given three days’ rest after returning from Japan before resuming training in Sohar, where they held eight sessions a week. Preparations concentrated on addressing weaknesses identified during the Asian campaign while maintaining the players’ fitness ahead of another demanding schedule.
Oman enter the tournament following a busy international programme, highlighted by their triumph at the second West Asia Men’s Volleyball Championship in Muscat in July. They defeated Qatar 3-0 in the final, winning 25-19, 25-15 and 25-23.
The team subsequently held a training camp in China before travelling to Japan, where they faced the hosts, Australia and Bahrain in the Asian championship. Those assignments gave the coaching staff further opportunities to assess the squad against different opponents and identify areas for improvement.

Tuesday’s opening programme features three matches. Kuwait face Bahrain at 4 pm Oman time, followed by Oman’s encounter with Algeria at 6 pm, before Jordan take on Saudi Arabia at 8 pm.
Oman will have little time to recover before their second match against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, October 7, at 5 pm. With less than 24 hours between the two fixtures, managing the players’ workload will be important. Kuwait meet Algeria in Wednesday’s other match at 7 pm.
After a rest day on Thursday, Oman return to action against Kuwait on Friday, October 9, at 5 pm. They then face hosts Jordan on Sunday, October 11, before completing their preliminary-stage campaign against Bahrain on Wednesday, October 14.
Al Maqbali said the Arab championship was among the coaching staff’s main targets for the season, with Oman determined to compete for a strong finish and build on the experience gained from their recent international appearances.