MUSCAT: Barely a week after completing their continental campaign in Japan, Oman’s men’s volleyball team will return to training on Wednesday as preparations begin for their next assignment at the 24th Arab Men’s Volleyball Championship in Jordan.
The national team will assemble at Sohar Sports Complex for a domestic training camp running until September 30, providing head coach Nizar al Shukaili with an important preparation window ahead of the Arab tournament, scheduled from October 4 to 14.
The camp will allow the technical staff to assess Oman’s recent performances at the AVC Men’s Volleyball Continental Championship and address areas that require improvement before the team travels to Jordan.
Training is expected to focus on restoring physical readiness following a demanding Asian campaign, while further developing coordination and tactical organisation. Reception, serving, blocking and transitions between defence and attack will be among the key areas of attention during the Sohar gathering.
The short turnaround between the two tournaments presents another challenge for the national side, with Al Shukaili looking to maintain match sharpness while making adjustments based on the lessons from Japan.
Oman faced high-level opposition in all three Pool A matches at the Asian Championship. They opened against hosts Japan and produced a spirited display despite a 3-1 defeat, becoming the only team in the group stage to take a set from the Asian powerhouse in that encounter.
Australia then handed Oman a straight-set defeat in their second match before Bahrain won 3-0 in the final group fixture, ending Oman’s campaign in the preliminary round.
While the results fell short of expectations, the tournament provided valuable exposure for several younger members of the squad and continued the technical staff’s approach of combining emerging players with experienced internationals.
IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITY
The upcoming Arab Championship now offers Oman an immediate opportunity to respond and return to winning form.
The national side had enjoyed a strong run before travelling to Japan, highlighted by their historic triumph at the second West Asia Men’s Volleyball Championship in Muscat in July.
Oman claimed the regional title for the first time after defeating Qatar in straight sets in the final at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, capping an impressive campaign on home soil.
That success, followed by matches against some of Asia’s established teams, has given Oman a sustained period of high-level competition heading into the Arab event.
The technical staff will now aim to turn that accumulated experience into greater consistency in Jordan, with the Sohar camp serving as the final major phase of preparation before the squad enters another important regional challenge.
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