Tuesday 26 / November / 2024
Muscat: Ahli-Sidab will begin their title defence against Bausher in the 46th edition of the prestigious His Majesty's Cup Hockey Championship, which begins in Muscat and Dhofar on November 17.
Six clubs from Muscat and Batinah region and four from Dhofar region are taking part in the annual tournament for which a grand draw ceremony was held at the Grand Hyatt on Sunday.
The ceremony was presided over by His Highness Sayyid Malik bin Shihab bin Tariq Al Said and had the attendance of Oman Football Association chairman Sheikh Salim Al Wahaibi, officials from the Ministry of Sports Affairs and representatives of others sports associations.
Oman Hockey Association chairman Talib Khamis Al Wahaibi, who organised the ceremony in grandeur this time, is looking forward to a grand tournament as well.
Though Ahli-Sidab begins their campaign on November 18, the tournament kicks-off with a match between Sohar and Quriyat at 6pm on November 17 followed by a match between Seeb and Sohar at 8pm on the same day.
In the Dhofar region, Al Nasr will open campaign against Al Ittihad at the Al Saada Sports Complex in Salalah on November 17.
According to tournament draw, the first round will feature a total of 15 matches in the Muscat-Batinah region and five teams will advance to the second round.
In the Dhofar region the four teams will be involved in double round league and like last year three teams will progress to the second round.
However, the dates for the second round, semifinals and the final are yet to be announced.
Defending champions Ahli-Sidab coached by K.K. Poonacha is all set to draft in Indian players for the second round. Mohan Muthanna, who is based here, will be featuring in the first round, while Pradhan Somanna is set to join during the second round.
Poonacha, as sources said, is likely to bring in two more players for the next phase. Meanwhile, the team have already begun preparations with a camp in Sohar.
First round schedule:
Muscat-Batinah region (Quriyat, Bausher, Ahli-Sidab, Seeb, Sohar, Saham). Venue: SQSC: November 17: Quriyat vs Saham, 6pm; Seeb vs Sohar, 8pm; November 18: Ahli-Sidab vs Bausher, 7pm; November 19: Quriyat vs Seeb 6pm; Sohar vs Saham 8pm; ; November 24: Ahli-Sidab vs Seeb 6pm; Sohar vs Bausher 8pm; November 25: Sohar vs Quriyat 7pm; November 26: Seeb vs Bausher 6pm; Saham vs Ahli-Sidab 8pm; December 1: Quriyat vs Bausher 6pm; Sohar vs Ahli-Sidab 8pm; December 2: Seeb vs Saham 7pm; December 3: Sohar vs Bausher 6pm; Ahli-Sidab vs Quriyat 8pm.
Dhofar region (Al Nasr, Salalah, Dhofar, Al Ittihad): Venue: Al Saada Sports Complex in Salalah: All matches at 4pm: November 17: Al Ittihad vs Al Nasr; November 18: Dhofar vs Salalah; November 19: Al Nasr vs Dhofar; November 21: Salalah vs Ittihad; November 24: Dhofar vs Ittihad; November 25: Al Nasr vs Salalah; November 26: Al Nasr vs Ittihad; November 27: Dhofar vs Salalah; November 29: Al Nasr vs Dhofar; December 1: Ittihad vs Salalah; December 2: Ittihad vs Dhofar; December 3: Al Nasr vs Salalah.
