MUSCAT: Oman’s national basketball team has stepped up preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup 2029 Pre-Qualifiers with an eight-day external training camp in Dubai from August 16 to 24.
The camp follows a domestic preparation phase in which the technical staff focused on improving the players’ physical and technical readiness while building greater cohesion within the squad ahead of the continental assignment.
Oman began training in Dubai on Sunday under national head coach Mohammed al Owaisi, with intensive sessions focusing on the technical and tactical aspects developed during the previous phase.
The Dubai programme also includes four friendly matches, allowing the coaching staff to assess the players under match conditions, test different tactical options and address areas that require improvement before the official competition.
Al Owaisi said the external camp represents an important stage in a gradual preparation programme designed to bring the team to its best possible level ahead of the qualifiers.
The external camp runs for eight days and includes four friendly matches in preparation for the Asian qualifiers, he said.
He added the internal camp was an important stage in our preparations. We focused on improving the players’ physical condition, developing several technical aspects and gaining a clearer understanding of the capabilities of the group. In Dubai, our preparations became more closely linked to competition through the friendly matches, which provide an opportunity to test what we have worked on.
Oman have been drawn in Group A of the Western Region alongside hosts UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Nepal. The five teams will compete in a single round-robin format, with each side playing four matches and the top three advancing to the second round of the pre-qualifiers. Group A matches will be staged in Dubai from August 26 to 31.
Group B comprises Kazakhstan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Kyrgyzstan. In the Eastern Region, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong China and Singapore form Group C, while Thailand, Mongolia, Vietnam and Fiji make up Group D.
The Oman delegation comprises 17 members, including 12 players. Ghassan al Busaidi serves as team manager, with Al Owaisi assisted by Ammar al Kathiri and Khalid al Harthi, while Sulaiman al Musallami is the team physiotherapist.
The squad features Hadid Bait Bakhit, Rashid al Zahaibi, Ahmed al Halhali, Ayman al Muharrami, Ahmed al Maamari, Abdulrahman al Shuaibi, Osama al Riyami, Bassam al Busaidi, Ahmed al Sinani, Zakariya al Wahaibi, Abdulrahman al Maamari and Mazin al Hadidi.
Oman will look to make full use of the Dubai camp and the four friendly matches to sharpen their readiness before turning their attention to a crucial qualifying campaign and the pursuit of a place in the next round.
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