MUSCAT : The Oman Football Association introduced its newly formed women’s football team at a glittering event on 24th May, at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel.
Bristling with energy and ambition, this young team hopes to make the nation proud at the international level and also to play at the World Cup one day.
“There is a lot of belief in this team,” said Oman Football Association board member and Chairperson of the Women’s Football Committee Hon. Lujaina Mohsin Darwish.
Read More
- Oman Finance Minister wins ‘Best Arab Minister’ honour
- The world has lost a great human being: Indian community in Oman mourns Dr. Sathish Nambiar
- Oman honours 50 Green Schools for excellence in sustainable education
- Oman Summit for Diabetes & Endocrine Across the Lifespan 2025 begins
- Former ISC Chairman and prominent Indian community leader in Oman Dr. Sathish Nambiar passes away
“I request everyone in Oman to support these young women, so that they go with the backing of the full country,” she added. “Of course, it is our dream to play at the World Cup one day, but these things take time, and we have just started out. So, we need to take the evolution of our team forward step by step.”
Plans to form a women’s team were drawn up when Hon. Lujaina was elected to the board of the OFA in August 2021. Soon afterward, a tournament was held featuring 14 women’s teams from the 50 clubs across Oman to headhunt the best players and form the national team. 40 women were shortlisted from among the participating teams, among whom 18 were selected for national duty.
Following an internal training and practice camp involving three friendly matches in Oman, the team will travel to Italy in June for more preparation and conditioning and then head to Saudi Arabia to take part in an Asian-level tournament, the first major test for this freshly-assembled team.
“We will be going with the team, first to Italy and then to Saudi Arabia, to support them all the way,” added Hon. Lujaina. She also thanked His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, for his efforts to encourage and develop football and other sports in Oman.
“The Oman Football Association has been among the key beneficiaries of the keen interest displayed by His Highness Sayyid Theyazin in providing more attention to sports in the country,” she said. “It is good that we have a young minister who can provide fresh impetus and new ideas to develop sports in Oman. I want to thank him and the Ministry for their endeavours in creating more opportunities for people in sports, as well the entire board of the OFA, and all those who have supported us on this journey.”
