Muscat, Dec 25
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY) has launched the second edition of the Government Institutions Eight-a-Side Football Championship during a ceremony held at Al Alam Square in Al Khuwair, under the auspices of Basil bin Ahmed al Rawas, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Sports and Youth. The event marked the official start of one of the Sultanate of Oman’s leading institutional sporting competitions.
The ceremony included the unveiling of the championship trophy and the electronic draw, as 32 government institutions will compete in the tournament, which kicks off on January 4 and runs until January 28. The championship is designed to promote sportsmanship and encourage physical activity among employees of government entities.
A total of 32 government institutions representing various state administrative bodies are taking part. The electronic draw placed the teams into eight groups of four, ensuring fairness and competitive balance.
GROUPINGS
Group 1 includes the Projects, Tenders and Local Content Authority, the Ministry of Finance, the National Centre for Statistics and Information, and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences.
Group 2 features the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Muscat Municipality, the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Group 3 consists of the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, the Central Bank of Oman, and the Social Protection Fund (SPF).
Group 4 includes the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, and the University Medical City.
Group 5 brings together the Royal Court Affairs, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, the Shura Council, and the Authority for Public Services Regulation.
Group 6 comprises the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority, the Ministry of Social Development, and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.
Group 7 includes the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, the State Audit Institution, and the Environment Authority.
Group 8 features the Supreme Judicial Council, the Ministry of Interior, the Diwan of Royal Court, and the National Records and Archives Authority.
The tournament is played under the eight-a-side format, with eight players from each team on the field. Matches are played over two halves of 20 minutes each, with three points awarded for a win and one point for a draw.
Saud Ambusaidi, Chairman of the Organising Committee, said the launch of the second edition follows the great success of the first, which witnessed wide participation and strong engagement from government institutions. He noted that the championship helps strengthen interaction between employees, break the routine of daily work, and promote sport as a way of life in line with Oman Vision 2040.
Meanwhile, Mohammed al Subhani of Royal Court Affairs, the defending champions, said his team enters the new edition determined to retain the title, adding that their preparations have included technical and physical training programmes to ensure full readiness in what is expected to be a highly competitive season.
The organising committee has allocated attractive cash and in-kind prizes, with the champions set to receive RO 3,500, the championship trophy and 20 gold medals. The runners-up will earn RO 2,500 and 20 silver medals, while the third-place team will receive RO 2,000 and 20 bronze medals. Individual awards for best player, best goalkeeper, top scorer, best coach and best administrator will also be presented, with each winner receiving RO 100.
Saleh al Sharji
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
