MUSCAT: The Oman Under-17 team will have an intensive preparation programme over the coming months, as the squad will build up towards three major regional and continental competitions later this year. The young players will represent the Sultanate of Oman in the Arab Cup, scheduled for August in Libya after being postponed from April, followed by the West Asian Championship in Iraq in September, and the AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers in November with the host nation to be unveiled soon.
Hamdan Bait Said, team's administrative manager, confirmed that the technical staff, led by head coach Ahmed Salim Bait Said, developed a comprehensive plan to ensure the players are fully prepared for the upcoming challenges.
“The preparation programme began in mid-April with a short internal camp under the supervision of the head coach. The main objective was to evaluate the player’s technical performance following the conclusion of domestic league and local competitions,” he said.
“The team will enter a more intensive phase in May with two extended internal training camps aimed at enhancing tactical understanding, physical readiness and overall team cohesion,” he said.
“During May, the team will undergo two longer camps compared to the initial phase. These camps are essential to build consistency and improve the players’ performance levels ahead of the competitive period,” he added.
ACADEMIC COMMITMENTS
The programme also taken into account the academic and school commitments of the players as most of whom are born in 2010 and 2011. As a result, no camps will be scheduled in June to allow players to focus on their school examinations.
“Following the exam period, the team will regroup in July to resume training. We are currently working on arranging an overseas training camp, which is still under confirmation with several national associations. The main objective is to organise friendly matches that will provide valuable international exposure for the players,” Hamdan noted.
Such international friendlies are expected to play a key role in testing the squad against different playing styles and raising their competitive readiness ahead of the official tournaments.
Regarding the draws for the upcoming competitions, Hamdan confirmed that official details are expected soon. “We are awaiting confirmation from the relevant organising bodies regarding the dates and venues of the draws for the Arab Cup, West Asian Championship, and AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. The Oman Football Association will receive official communication in the coming period,” he concluded.
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