Al Suwaiq seek first point against Dhofar
OPL THIRD ROUND: Al Khaboura take on Al Shabab, Saham meet Muscat and Oman Club clash with Al Nasr
Sept 25: OPL leaders Fanja are set to welcome Al Oruba, while Al Suwaiq travel to Dhofar in crucial games of the third week of Omantel Professional League (OPL).
Abdul Naser Al Makkis makes his debut as Al Nasr manager when they host Oman Club, Muscat and Saham are searching for first victory.
In the other fixtures, Al Khaboura take on Al Shabab, while Al Rustaq meet Sohar, and Jalan play with Al Nahda. The fixtures are scheduled on September 26 and 27.
Three clubs start this round with new coaches. Ali al Khanbashi and Ahmed al Alawi with Al Suwaiq and Al Oruba respectively, and ex-Saham manager Al Makkis who came back again to begin new journey with Al Nasr.
After Al Suwaiq manager Abdul Razaq Khiri has been sacked due to worst results, Ali al Khanbashi has been appointed as new manager. Ali will be required to come back from Dhofar with at least one point as they face one of the strongest teams this season.
Al Suwaiq and Dhofar were the most OPL title candidates before it launched because of the strong squad they have, but the previous two games showed that they still search for a shape. The game kicks off at 20:30 at Salalah Stadium.
The OPL champions Fanja will kick off the round when they host Al Oruba at Seeb Stadium at 15:30. OPL leaders, who are the only team to get full marks, have a chance to grab the sixth victory in a row over Al Oruba.
In their last 10 meetings, Fanja have won six times, lost only one, and they drew three times. Fanja are also much better in scoring as they scored 12 goals while conceding only four. Al Oruba have four points but they replaced their Italian manager Fabio Lopez with the local Ahmed al Alawi who will face a big challenge against the hosts Fanja.
In the same time, an open game is expected to take place between Al Nasr and Oman Club at Salalah Stadium. Both the teams have done a good job in the last two rounds, getting four points with a good appearance. Surprisingly, Al Nasr new manager Abdulnaser Al Makkis will meet again with his favourite playmaker Mohsin Jawhar, as they were together last season with HM Cup Champions Saham.
Tuesday’s action will start at Sohar Stadium when Saham take on Muscat at 17:30 in order to improve their table standing.
Saham have only one point which they drew with Sohar and lost against Al Shabab, while Muscat slumped to two losses against Dhofar and Al Nasr.
Saham have cancelled their contract with the two professionals Abdullah Fatai and Daiya and now they seek a good defender to replace Mohamed Matter who moved to Al Oruba.
In the same Stadium, Al Khaboura will meet Al Shabab. Both teams have played very good games. In round, Al Khaboura did everything in the pitch except scoring against Sohar, which the result was 1-0 for Sohar.
As per the Al Khaboura-Sohar postmatch conference, Al Khaboura’s Syrian manager said, “We have missed a couple of goal chances and we will work hard to improve the final touches.”
Sohar will play away for the first time when they travel to face the newcomers Al Rustaq at Seeb Stadium. It would be an opportunity for Sohar to play away from their loyal supporters who stand behind the club at Sohar Stadium. Al Rustaq are hoping to improve their last minutes’ mistakes as they conceded two goals in the stoppage time against Al Oruba and Al Nahda.
The final OPL fixture will be between Jalan and Al Nahda at Sur Stadium. Jalan missed a golden chance to get the first victory ever in OPL last round when they ended first half 2-0 against Al Oruba but slumped to 2-2 in the second half. Both teams have only one point.
By the end of the third OPL round, each team would have played three games in only 10 days.