MUSCAT: Elite players from the Oman Basketball Association’s Athlete Development Centres have begun an overseas training camp in Alexandria, Egypt, aimed at enhancing their technical abilities and providing valuable international exposure.
The camp, organised by the Oman Basketball Association (OBA) with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY), will continue until August 11. It forms part of the association’s long-term programme to develop national basketball talent through intensive training and competitive matches against different basketball schools.
The delegation travelled to Egypt following the conclusion of a domestic training camp, which included a friendly match against Nizwa Club.
Prior to the team’s departure, Abubakr al Jahwari, Vice-Chairman of the OBA and Chairman of the Athlete Development Centres Supervisory Committee, met the technical and administrative staff, players and their parents to outline the camp’s programme and its various stages.
Al Jahwari said the Alexandria camp represented an important phase of a long-term player development project designed to provide young talents with diverse training environments that would help improve their skills and maximise their potential.
He explained that the association viewed such camps as an investment in the future of Omani basketball, with the programme focusing on the technical, physical and psychological development of players rather than preparing them for a specific tournament.
“The programme will continue after the delegation returns to Oman through another domestic camp, ensuring that the development process proceeds in accordance with the approved plan,” he said.
Al Jahwari also praised the continued support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and the cooperation of parents, noting that their contribution played a major role in the successful implementation of the association’s player development programmes.
Ghassan al Busaidy, General Coordinator of the Athlete Development Centres, said the players participating in the camp were selected following a detailed assessment of their performances and progress during the previous training stages.
He noted that the camp would not be limited to technical development, but would also focus on strengthening the players’ personalities, building their self-confidence and familiarising them with the demands of overseas competitions.
Exposure to different coaching methods and competitive environments would also help the players become more adaptable and prepared for future challenges, he added.
Al Busaidy confirmed that the development programme would continue after the team’s return through successive training phases leading up to the start of the new academic year.
Iskandar al Nabli, General Technical Supervisor of the Athlete Development Centres, said the technical programme included intensive daily training sessions and a series of friendly matches against leading Alexandria clubs.
The Omani players are scheduled to face Al Ittihad Alexandria, Sporting, Smouha, Al Tram and Al Olympi during the camp.
Al Nabli said the matches would allow the coaching staff to assess the players under genuine competitive conditions and evaluate their technical and tactical progress. The encounters would also provide valuable indicators regarding their readiness for the next phases of the development programme.
Meanwhile, Mohammed al Amin, Physical Preparation Supervisor at the Oman Basketball Association, said the camp represented an important opportunity to evaluate the results of the physical conditioning programme implemented during the previous period.
He explained that the training loads and friendly matches had been carefully structured according to scientific principles, enabling the technical staff to assess the players’ ability to maintain their physical and technical performance under the pressure of successive matches.
The results will provide the coaching staff with accurate data to guide the remaining stages of the preparation programme and ensure the players continue to develop efficiently.
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