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Oman team to camp from Jan 17 Full-strength squad to train under new coach Ribas By Our Sports Reporter MUSCAT — The Oman national football team will begin their preparations for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers with a training-cum-conditioning camp here from January 17. Revealing the news at the weekly media conference at the Oman Football Association (OFA) headquarters, OFA competitions committee head Talal al Amri said the team will train under newly appointed Uruguayan Julio Cesar Ribas. Talal Al Amri added that during the camp the new coach will have a look at all the players, including the professionals. The players who playing aboard will join the team once the camps starts. That helps Oman to field a full strength team for the forthcoming three friendlies against Denmark, Singapore and Kuwait as well as the first of World Cup qualifier to be played against Bahrain here on February 6. “The camp will begin on January 17 with all the available players and the professionals are expected to join before January 22. The league matches in Qatar and Kuwait, where our professionals are involved, will end by January 22 and they will join the camp immediately,” he added. Meanwhile, the Kuwait national team is expected to arrive in Oman on January 21 for a conditioning camp and they will be playing friendlies against Singapore on January 24 and Oman on January 30. The OFA official also informed that Mohammed Zayed al Mukhaini, Sur Club manager, and Al Faris al Azam, Al Nahda manager, are attending an AFC meeting on the forthcoming AFC Cup. It was also learnt that the meeting of federation general secretaries in relation to the 19th Gulf Cup has been postponed from February 9 to 16 following requests from Yemen and Iraq associations. Simultaneously the meeting of the federation heads will now be held on February 17. Oman FA has also received a letter from AFC stating that a course for Level C coaches will be held in Doha, Qatar, from February 15 to 29. This is being held on sidelines of the Youth Football Festival to be held in Doha. TEAM TO ASSESS FIRST DIVISION LEAGUE Meanwhile, Talal al Amri stated that a committee has been formed to asses the first division league in general and also to spot the best individual performers. “This is to facilitate certain factors as OFA has announced special rewards for the first division this season,” he explained. The second part of the league is set to begin on February 22 and the committee is said to have arranged the dates in a way that no delays or changes occur. Asked about the complaint made by Seeb Club asking explanation from OFA for changing the scheduling of their match against Muscat with less than a day's notice, Talal Al Amri said the complaint has been forwarded to the concerned official and will come up for discussion in the forthcoming workshop for the football clubs. The competitions committee has also presented a fresh proposal for the His Majesty's Cup tournament and a detailed discussion will be held by the board on January 24. TWO TOURNAMENTS AT MUSCAT FESTIVAL Oman Football Association will actively take part in the Muscat Festival 2008 by organising two events at the Seeb beach and Qurum Natural Park. The Muscat Festival Beach Football at Seeb will begin on January 24 and will be played every Thursday and Fridays until the end of the festival. Entries will be open until January 20 and there will be no entry fee. However, a RO30 refundable fee will have to be paid for insurance for each team. The fee will be reimbursed after the tournament. Tala al Amri said the winning team can walk away with a RO300 prize money and gold medals, while the runner-up will earn RO200 and silver medals. The third placed will be given RO100 and bronze medals. Registration must be done with Oman Football Association. Meanwhile, OFA's Saif al Jabri said that a talent scouting and exhibition of football skills will be held at the Qurum Natural Park during the course of the festival. This event is open for all residents of the country and will be held from February 7 to 12. Four miniature courts have been made at the venue and the action will take place from 3.30 pm till dusk. Interested teams of 10 players (boys and girls) may register through Seeb Club, Muscat Club and Quriyat Club and only talents between the age group of 10 and 12 will be allowed to participate. RO10 is the registration fee for the programme. The programme includes six-a-side football tournament and also individual skill demonstrations. There will be cash prizes, but the spotlight will be the chance to get recognised a built a great football career under the auspices of the Oman FA. Further details on both the programmes can be had from the Oman Football Association, Muscat Municipality and authorised sports clubs.