Muscat, Aug 27
As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the basketball player development system in Oman, the Oman Basketball Association (OBA) has appointed Syrian coach Abdullah Hashem as the General Coach for the seven athlete preparation centres across the Sultanate of Oman.
The signing ceremony took place at the OBA headquarters, located within the Oman Olympic Committee and Sports Associations building, under the framework of the national project launched by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY).
The contract was signed by OBA Chairman Eng Khalfan al Naabi and coach Abdullah Hashem in the presence of Said al Habsi, OBA Acting Secretary-General, and Ghassan al Busaidy, Administrative Officer of the centres.
Al Naabi emphasised the importance of this step, stressing that the centres are the foundation for discovering talent and preparing basketball players. He noted that appointing a general coach aligns with the association’s vision to establish a scientific and integrated plan that strengthens the centres’ work, enhances training quality, and refines players’ skills. He explained that the choice of the Syrian coach was based on his long experience in training youth categories and developing young athletes.
Al Naabi further pointed out that the seven centers are located at Seeb, Sohar, Nizwa, Al Bashayer, Salalah, Al Amerat, in addition to a girls’ center at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher. He added that these centres are supervised by newly renewed Omani coaches under strict technical criteria, ensuring continuity and empowerment.
The OBA, together with the new general coach, aims to design a unified and comprehensive training plan for all centres. He also highlighted the centers’ role in broadening basketball’s reach in Oman and producing skilled players who have contributed to both clubs and national teams. Al Naabi concluded by wishing Hashem success in his role and reaffirmed the association’s full support to overcome challenges and ensure the centres’ success.
For his part, coach Abdullah Hashem expressed his gratitude for the OBA's trust, describing his new role as both a great honour and a big responsibility. “These centres are factories for preparing a new generation of players who will be the future of basketball in Oman,” he said. He added that the coming period will include designing a unified training plan, as well as organising workshops for all centre coaches and their assistants to outline work mechanisms and establish clear operational strategies.
Hashem noted that he has already begun holding online meetings with the coaches and has visited several centres in Muscat, Al Bashayer and Al Amerat, expressing optimism about the enthusiasm of the coaches and the promising talent selection he observed.
STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE
Meanwhile, Abu Bakr al Jahwri, OB Vice-Chairman and Head of the Supervisory Committee for the centres, stated: "This project places great importance on the development of basketball. Having a dedicated general coach is a cornerstone in ensuring training quality, unifying methodologies, and supervising all centres in line with the goals of the national development project."
He added that the centres are the technical arm of the project, providing a professional and motivating training environment that ensures sustainable development and keeps pace with the latest scientific approaches in the sport. Their outcomes, he said, will be clearly reflected in upcoming youth competitions, ensuring the preparation of male and female players capable of representing Oman in a competitive international environment guided by a clear scientific vision.
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