MUSCAT, DEC 14
The Omani national esports team is set to begin, for the first time in its history, its participation in the Esports World Cup 25 for the game Rocket League, hosted by the Saudi capital, Riyadh, from 15 to 20 December. This historic milestone reflects the growing presence of Omani esports on the international stage.
The Omani team’s matches will kick off at 8:00 pm Muscat time over two days, today, Monday and tomorrow, Tuesday, where it will face eight of the world’s strongest Rocket League nations: Italy, Saudi Arabia, Norway, the United States, Brazil, Chile, and Germany, in a highly competitive group filled with major challenges and intense matchups.
The national squad competing in the tournament consists of Amjad al Zadjali, Sultan al Balushi, and Abdullah al Ameri, under the leadership of head coach Abdullah al Atiqi. This historic participation represents the culmination of long-term preparation and development programs aimed at building a team capable of true competition, rather than mere participation.
A PROUD GLOBAL PRESENCE
Engineer Saba al Busaidy, Chairperson of the Oman Esports and Electronic Games Committee, affirmed that the national team’s participation in the Rocket League World Cup marks a qualitative achievement and a pivotal moment in the journey of esports in the Sultanate of Oman. She noted that this qualification reflects the extensive technical and organisational efforts exerted during the past period.
Al Busaidy stated that the players have presented a commendable model that reflects the impact of structured preparation programs, training camps, and competitive participations, which ultimately led to qualification for this major global event. She emphasised that Oman’s presence among the world’s elite national teams represents an important step toward solidifying its position on the worldwide esports map.
She added "We highly value the tremendous efforts made by the players, as well as the technical and administrative staff, and we appreciate the pivotal role played by our supporting partners in empowering the team and raising the flag of Oman at this global event. We remain committed to working under a clear vision aimed at preparing national teams capable of competing internationally, in line with the pillars of Oman Vision 2040".
LONG-TERM PREPARATION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING
Al Busaidy explained that the team’s preparation was not the result of a short-term effort, but rather part of a long-term program that extended for more than a year, implemented under a clear technical vision aimed at building a truly competitive national team. The preparation stages included strong regional and continental participations, technical development programmes, and continuous performance evaluations, all of which contributed to refining the players’ skills and enhancing their individual and collective readiness.
She highlighted key preparation milestones, including participation in the Asian Youth Games, where the team won the bronze medal, as well as the Islamic Solidarity Games, in which the team finished fourth amid strong competition. In addition, the team underwent specialised domestic training camps and an overseas training camp ahead of the World Cup to reach the highest levels of readiness and cohesion.
FLEXIBILITY IN FACING CHALLENGES
Regarding challenges, Al BusaidY pointed out that the nature of esports requires daily practice and continuous development, which poses difficulties given the players’ academic and professional commitments. She stressed that the committee addressed these challenges with high flexibility through coordination with relevant entities, transforming them into a unifying national opportunity that supported the players and enabled them to represent Oman in the best possible manner.
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