MUSCAT: The Oman Under-17 football team will resume preparations on Thursday with an intensive domestic training camp in Muscat, marking the beginning of a crucial phase in their build-up to two major continental assignments later this year.
The camp, which will run until August 17, will see the young Red Warriors engage in a comprehensive programme of technical, tactical and physical training besides playing two international friendly matches against Bahrain. The fixtures are expected to provide the coaching staff with an important opportunity to assess the squad's progress and fine-tune preparations ahead of the West Asian Under-17 Championship in Iraq in September and the AFC Under-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers in November.
Led by national head coach Ahmed Said, Oman will be looking to maximise the value of every training session as the team enters a decisive stage of its development. The coaching staff aims to enhance the players' tactical awareness, improve match fitness and strengthen team chemistry before competitive action begins.
Speaking to Oman Observer, team administrative manager Hamdan Bait Said confirmed that the Oman Football Association (OFA) developed a comprehensive long-term preparation programme designed to ensure the squad reaches peak readiness for the upcoming tournaments. "We have prepared a comprehensive plan for the team, and it is currently under final review by the National Teams Committee of the OFA. We are waiting for the official approval before implementing the remaining stages of the programme," Hamdan said.
He explained that the current camp represents the beginning of a more demanding period in the team's preparations. "Starting this month, the team will enter a more intensive phase with a series of internal training camps focusing on tactical understanding, physical conditioning and strengthening team cohesion. Every camp has specific technical objectives, and we believe this gradual approach will benefit the players significantly."
Hamdan added that the coaching staff intends to increase both the duration and intensity of future camps as the competition calendar approaches. "During the coming months, we are planning two longer training camps compared to the initial preparation phase. These camps will be extremely important in creating consistency within the squad and raising the overall performance level before the official competitions begin."
DRAW PROCEDURES
Hamdan also confirmed that Oman are awaiting official communication regarding the draw procedures for both major tournaments. "We are expecting the relevant organising bodies to announce the details for the draws of the West Asian Championship and the AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers in the near future. The OFA will receive the official notifications once they are released."
The previous training camp featured a 24-player squad comprising from: Ahmed al Mukhaini, Nahidh Bait Jameel, Mohammed al Hinai, Mohammed al Kazroni, Abdullah al Zaabi, Ziyad al Maamari, Bashar al Shamsi, Mohammed al Balushi, Hassan al Balushi, Nayer Bait Ardheen, Saif al Jabri, Jassim al Dawood, Mohammed al Mahrouqi, Jihad al Shukaili, Sultan al Balushi, Abdulrahman al Hashmi, Abdullah Issa, Nadir al Noobi, Arkan al Jabri, Al Mulhim al Sulaimi, Abdulrahim al Twairshi, Mohammed al Omrani, Al Hussain al Ajmi and Mohammed al Maqbali.
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