The group stage of the inaugural 'Koorathon' Football Tournament for Higher Education Institutions, organised by the Oman Logistics Academy, has concluded with strong participation from 10 university and college teams representing institutions across the Sultanate of Oman. The competition highlighted the growing prominence of university sports and the positive competitive spirit among students.
At the end of the preliminary round, eight teams secured their places in the quarterfinals, while the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (A) and Oman Logistics Academy (B) exited the tournament after failing to collect any points during the group stage.
In Group 1, the University of Nizwa asserted their dominance by finishing top with a perfect six points from two victories, underlining both their attacking strength and tactical discipline. Muscat College claimed second place with three points to secure the other qualification spot, while Oman Logistics Academy (B) were eliminated.
Group 2 witnessed intense competition until the final round, with Muscat University finishing first on seven points, narrowly ahead of Sultan Qaboos University with six points in a closely contested race. Oman Tourism College advanced as the best third-placed team with one point, while the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (A) were eliminated from the competition.
In Group 3, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (B) and the International College of Engineering and Management (ICEM) were level on points, but goal difference awarded first place to UTAS (B), with ICEM finishing second. Oman Logistics Academy (A) progressed as one of the best third-placed teams, completing the line-up for the knockout stage.
QUARTERS FROM SUNDAY
The quarterfinal matches are set to begin on Sunday, with Oman Tourism College facing the University of Nizwa, while Oman Logistics Academy (A) will take on Muscat University. The remaining fixtures will be played on Monday, featuring Sultan Qaboos University against the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (B), and Muscat College against the International College of Engineering and Management.
The semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, with the final set for March 15, when the inaugural champions of the tournament will be crowned.
From a statistical perspective, a total of 37 goals were scored during the group stage. Huzaifa al Maamari of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (B) currently leads the scoring chart with four goals, while the University of Nizwa boast the strongest attack with seven goals and remains the only team to have achieved a perfect record in the group phase. The tournament has also been marked by exemplary sportsmanship, with no red cards issued and only a limited number of yellow cards shown.
The first edition of 'Koorathon' has successfully established itself as a competitive platform for higher education institutions, providing an opportunity to showcase emerging talent and strengthen the presence of university football within Oman’s sporting landscape.
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