MUSCAT: The Ministry of Education (MoE), represented by the Oman School Sports Association (OSSA), has signed a partnership agreement with Muscat Pharmacy and Stores, the brand owner of Pocari Sweat, to support the fourth edition of the ‘Pocari Sweat’ School Football Championship. The signing ceremony also featured a visual presentation highlighting key statistics and photos from the previous three editions of the tournament organised with the company’s support.
The agreement was signed by Dr Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education for Education, and Chairman of the OSSA Board of Directors, while Muscat Pharmacy and Stores was represented by its CEO, Jose Sridharan.
The upcoming championship is scheduled to take place in March next year with the participation of 11 schools from various educational directorates. It targets students born in 2013 and above, contributing to wider student engagement in school sports activities.
Nazeera bint Ahmed al Harthiyah, OSSA Vice-Chairperson, expressed gratitude for the continued partnership with Pocari Sweat saying, “on behalf of my colleagues in the OSSA and the sports committees in the educational directorates, we extend our sincere appreciation to Muscat Pharmacy and Stores for supporting the Pocari Sweat Football Championship for the fourth consecutive year. This tournament has become one of our key annual sports events, contributing significantly to discovering student talents who have the potential to progress to clubs and national teams, the success of the previous three editions, widely praised by the educational directorates and the sports community, reflects the positive impact of this partnership.”
Al Harthy added that the first edition of the championship began in the academic year 2022-23 with eight teams representing five educational directorates, in addition to three private and international schools, targeting first cycle students, this year, the fourth edition will be held for second cycle students born in 2015 and above.
She emphasised that organising such tournaments plays a crucial role in instilling sports values, encouraging students to engage in physical activity and discovering and nurturing gifted talents, highlighted that the agreement aligns with the OSSA's commitment to strengthening public private partnerships in education, supporting Oman Vision 2040 and promoting students’ physical, mental and social development.
Jose Sridharan expressed pride in renewing the partnership, saying, “we are proud to support this initiative for the fourth consecutive year, our commitment to youth development and promoting healthy lifestyles aligns perfectly with the objectives of this championship. By expanding participation to include students born in 2013 and above, we aim to inspire more students to embrace sports as a key part of their education and personal growth. Muscat Pharmacy remains committed to fostering community engagement and promoting health and wellness through sports. The Pocari Sweat Football Championship continues to serve as a platform for young athletes to showcase their skills and develop lifelong values of teamwork and perseverance.”
Photo by: SALIM AL SALHI
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