Fayez is Oman’s hero

‘The Red Warriors’ powered by Fayez al Rushaidi gave Oman a perfect new year gift when they edged past UAE 5-4 on penalties to lift their second Arabian Gulf Cup title in Kuwait City on Friday. Fayez al Rushaidi has been the star of the 23rd Arabian Gulf Cup for Oman and how!...

The last time Oman won the Arabian Gulf Cup was in 2009 and on home soil, now the effort and enormity of the achievement has just gotten bigger and grander. See page 2

It was the iconic Ali al Habsi who skippered and helped Oman clinch the trophy in 2009 when they beat Saudi Arabia on penalties in the final in Muscat.

Now almost a decade later, it is another goalkeeper Fayez al Rushaidi who has come to the fore. The 29-year-old has been a revelation in this edition of the prestigious Arabian Gulf Cup.

After the early loss to UAE as Oman looked to turn their fortunes around, their man in the goal has been a pillar in the team’s performances.

The tall man donning the number 18 jersey was in his element in the final when he literally saved Oman’s day parrying Omar Abdulrahman’s 90th minute penalty.

And Omar proved to be his bunny again 30 minutes later when he blocked the curly-haired Emirati’s attempt in the penalty shoot-out to bring home the Cup to Oman.

It was history revisiting itself in the context of Fayez’s efforts as Habsi was the star of Oman in the 2009 edition when he made some great saves to land the Sultanate the trophy.

It was a truly all-round effort from Oman for 120 minutes as the forwards, midfielders and defenders worked in unison to achieve the

target.

OMAN’S COME-FROM-BEHIND EFFORT

The ‘Red Warriors’ avenged their group stage defeat to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by defeating the latter to clinch the 23rd Arabian Gulf Cup.

Cheered on by a huge contingent of 30,000 travelling Omani fans, the Sultanate’s team was in a completely positive frame of mind throughout the game.

Attacking the UAE defence with regularity and probing the rivals were Jamil al Yahmadi, Khalid al Hajri and Mohsin al Khaldi.

Oman had begun the tournament with the 1-0 loss to UAE but showed tremendous resilience to launch a comeback in the tournament.

The 1-0 victory against Kuwait followed by the stunning 2-0 triumph against Saudi

Arabia paved the way for the team to reach the semifinal.

Anything would have been possible in the semifinal against a good Bahrain team but the Omani players stuck it out. The reward was an own goal from Bahraini player Mahdi Abd al Jaber to gift Oman their fourth Arabian Gulf Cup final since the 17th edition.

And when it came to the all-important final at the Jaber Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City, the ‘Red Warriors’ rose to the occasion.

The likes of Fayez al Rushaidi, Ahmed Kanu and Co will come home to a delirious welcome when they reach Oman and why not!...

It’s time for Oman to sing the anthem and everyone knows that by now for sure... it goes... ‘We are the champions!!...’

Haridev Pushparaj