Muscat, Dec 1
Photos: Saleh al Sharji
At the behest of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, on Monday presided over a ceremony to announce the results of His Majesty The Sultan’s Cup for Youth. Seeb Club lifted the cup as the champions, while Salalah Club came second, with Saham Club in the third position.
In his speech at the ceremony, Basil bin Ahmed al Rawas, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Sports and Youth, affirmed that the competition aims to establish a comprehensive vision for developing club management based on the highest standards of quality, governance, and modern planning. This, he said, enhances the role of clubs as spaces that nurture youth, support cultural and sports activities, and contribute to fostering citizenship and volunteerism. He added that this year’s edition aligns with the Oman Sports Strategy 2040 — 'Advanced Omani Sports and Global Achievements' by developing the evaluation system, increasing prize values, and linking the competition to strategic sector projects such as the establishment of private-sector clubs, separation of merged clubs, converting clubs into specialised entities, privatisation and enhancing financial sustainability through TV broadcasting rights.
Al Rawas extended his gratitude to club leaders and the ministry’s partners from media institutions and public and private entities, noting that the competition has become a clear roadmap for club development and youth empowerment.
The ceremony included a visual presentation highlighting the evolution of the competition since its launch in 1998 and its role in strengthening institutional work within clubs, along with a review of past winning clubs. After the presentation, the Minister of Energy and Minerals, accompanied by Basil al Rawas, honoured the top clubs of the 2024 edition. Seeb Club received first place, the Sultan’s Cup for Youth, and a cash prize of RO 50,000. Salalah Club came second, receiving RO 35,000, followed by Saham in third place with RO 30,000. Oman Club finished fourth with a prize of RO 25,000, while Al Bashayer Club were placed fifth, securing RO 20,000.
STRATEGIC PILLARS
The ceremony also honoured the winning clubs in the strategic pillars of Oman's sports system: Taqah Club won the Cultural, Sports and Youth Activities pillar. Qurayat Club received the award for the Economy and Development pillar. Fanja Club won the Governance pillar and Al Amerat Club topped the Sports and Environmental Sustainability pillar.
This year’s edition saw the participation of fifty clubs. Its renewed vision positioned the club as a cultural, sports, and youth platform that contributes to creativity, innovation, and financial sustainability. Meanwhile, its mission focused on achieving an integrated administrative model for clubs based on quality, governance, and effective planning, reinforcing their community role in nurturing youth and enhancing engagement.
The main committee adopted a new guideline featuring four key competition pillars, ensuring balanced performance across all fields rather than relying on a single area. Results were calculated through a precise formula linking each pillar’s percentage to the overall evaluation score. In case of a tie, rankings were determined according to performance in competitive sports or governance. The Cultural, Sports, and Youth Activities pillar is one of the most significant, with 313 points distributed across awareness campaigns, physical activity celebrations, summer programmes, women’s activities, and programmes for persons with disabilities, with minimum participation requirements, media coverage criteria, and an approved annual plan.
Meanwhile, Yousef al Wahaibi, Vice-President of Seeb Club, explained that Seeb has consistently maintained its place among the top three over the past years due to a clear strategy covering administrative, financial, technical, and youth-focused aspects. He asserted that the competition has supported stronger governance, more active youth and community programmes, and improved cultural and sports initiatives, while contributing to the development of internal regulations and laws. Al Wahaibi praised the ministry’s efforts in developing and expanding the competition, affirming that Seeb Club will continue working to elevate its performance across all fields.
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