MUSCAT: Oman’s national basketball team concluded their external training camp in Dubai on Monday as they enter the final stage of preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup 2029 Pre-Qualifiers First Round.
The camp, which began on August 16, formed the final phase of the national team’s build-up to the continental competition. Following the conclusion of the camp, the delegation moved to the official team hotel designated by the organisers ahead of the start of Group A action in Dubai on Wednesday.
Under national head coach Mohammed al Owaisi, Oman used the camp to improve physical, technical and tactical readiness while strengthening cohesion among the players ahead of the official matches.
Oman are drawn in Group A alongside Bahrain, hosts UAE, Kuwait and Nepal. The First Round is being played during the August 24-September 1 international window, with Group A matches in Dubai running from August 26 to 31. The top three teams will advance to the Second Round.
Oman begin their campaign against Kuwait on Wednesday before facing Bahrain on Thursday. They return to action against hosts UAE on August 30 and conclude their Group A programme against Nepal on August 31.
Positive Dubai preparations
The Dubai camp followed an earlier domestic preparation phase and featured daily training sessions and four friendly matches designed to test the players’ readiness and allow the coaching staff to assess different tactical approaches and combinations.
Oman defeated Sharjah Club 56-52, edged Maxreem Academy 55-53 and beat JAM Sports Academy 64-58 before narrowly losing their fourth friendly against Maxreem Academy 70-67.
The matches also helped the players adapt to a compact competitive schedule similar to what they will face during the qualifiers.
The 12-player squad comprises Hadid Bait Bakhit, Rasheed al Zahaibi, Ahmed al Halhali, Ayman al Muharrami, Ahmed al Maamari, Abdulrahman al Shuaibi, Osama al Riyami, Bassam al Busaidi, Ahmed al Sinani, Zakaria al Wahaibi, Abdulrahman al Maamari and Mazen al Hadidi.
The delegation is headed by Said al Habsi, Oman Basketball Association board member and Acting General Secretary. Ghassan al Busaidi serves as team manager, while Al Owaisi is assisted by Ammar al Kathiri and Khalid al Harthi. Sulaiman al Musallami is the physiotherapist, with Ammar al Balushi serving as video analyst and team photographer.
Al Habsi said the Dubai camp achieved several important objectives despite the relatively short preparation period.
“The camp was very important and, through the collective efforts of the players, technical staff and administration, we were able to provide the team with the right conditions to play strong matches and prepare properly,” he said.
He added that the friendly schedule was planned to resemble the rhythm of the qualifiers, helping the players adjust to short recovery periods between matches.
Al Habsi expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to compete for a place in the Second Round, stressing that the players have the technical qualities required and now need to translate their preparation into performances on court.
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