AHMED AL KAABI
MUSCAT, JAN 8
Al Amerat Club were crowned champions of the Second Division Handball League after a resounding 33–15 victory over Al Musannah in the final, which was held at the main hall of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher. The triumph marks a historic achievement for Al Amerat in their very first season in handball competitions, while both Al Amerat and Al Musannah secured promotion to the First Division for the upcoming season.
Al Amerat entered the final strongly and imposed its control from the opening minutes. Asaad al Hasani opened the scoring with a powerful shot, followed by a second goal from Hani al Dughayshi. Although Al Musannah managed to level the score at 2–2, a quick three-goal burst from Mahmoud al Jabri, Haitham Murad, and Bassem al Rahbi gave Al Amerat a clear 5–2 advantage.
Al Amerat continued their attacking pressure, capitalising on Al Musannah’s defensive lapses. Hani al Dughayshi added two more goals in quick succession as Al Amerat’s technical and physical superiority became evident, supported by their organised movement and experienced players. After 20 minutes of the first half, Al Amerat had extended their lead to 11–4 before going into the break comfortably ahead at 15–5.
The pattern of the match remained unchanged in the second half, with Al Amerat maintaining complete control while fatigue became apparent among Al Musannah players. The scoreline gradually increased to 29–13 after 20 minutes of the second half.
The match ended with a deserved 33–15 victory for Al Amerat, highlighted by a strong late display from goalkeeper Noah Mallah, as the final whistle confirmed a historic title for the club.
At the closing ceremony, held under the auspices of Shaikh Issam bin Abdullah al Shanfari, Chairman of Al Nasr Club, Al Amerat were awarded the trophy and gold medals, Al Musannah took silver, and Mirbat claimed bronze.
Al Amerat head coach Khalid al Araimi expressed his great happiness with the title, stressing that the achievement was the result of collective efforts by the technical and administrative staff and the players, supported directly by the club’s board, led by Mohsin al Bahrani. He explained that preparations began last October, with the team built around experienced players and a series of friendly matches. He added that winning the Second Division is only the beginning of a series of ambitions, especially with the upcoming Ministry Shield competition.
Ali al Balushi, assistant coach of Al Musannah, said his team did not get the result they had hoped for in the final, stressing that Al Amerat benefited from a squad full of experienced players, including former national team members, while Al Musannah relied mainly on young players. He explained that lack of experience and match sharpness affected his team’s performance, especially with the pressure of playing two matches in three days, which led to fatigue, injuries, and the absence of key players in the final.
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