MUSCAT: Oman’s national under-17 football team suffered a 2-1 defeat against Bahrain in the first of two international friendly matches at the Royal Oman Police Stadium in Muscat on Thursday evening.
The encounter formed part of Oman’s ongoing domestic training camp, which began on August 6 and continues until August 17, as the young Red Warriors step up preparations for their upcoming regional and continental assignments.
Despite the result, the Bahrain double-header provides the coaching staff with an important opportunity to assess the players under competitive conditions and identify areas requiring further improvement as preparations move into a more intensive phase.
The current camp features 24 players selected by national head coach Ahmed bin Salem Bait Said. Training sessions during the past few days have focused on technical and tactical work as well as improving the players’ fitness levels and overall readiness.
Competition within the squad is also increasing as players look to strengthen their claims for places in the final line-up. The technical staff are using the friendly matches to test different combinations, implement tactical plans and assess the strengths and weaknesses of the team before the next stage of preparation.
Oman and Bahrain will meet again in their second friendly at the Police Stadium on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 7:15 pm. The match will provide Oman with another opportunity to evaluate their progress before the camp concludes the following day.
The training programme forms part of Oman’s preparations for the planned West Asian Under-17 Championship in Iraq in September and, more importantly, the AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers later this year. Oman are also expected to hold two further domestic camps in Muscat next month, with additional friendly matches planned as preparations continue.
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