FIFA corruption trial to begin in New York, ex-officials to be questioned
High-profile golf events in the Sultanate will help the serious players to improve their standard manifold, feels top Omani golfer Azzan al Rumhi.
“Earlier, I used to go overseas to watch top golfers in action. Now with the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, I am privileged to watch them here in Muscat,” Azzan, who won the NBO Omani Amateur Final, said during the presentation ceremony.
Fahad al Kitani came second and Rashad al Harthy finished third in the Omani competition held on the sidelines of the European Tour event.
Azzan, 33, is looking forward to put his experience and exposure with the top golfers into test at the King Fahad tournament in Manama, Bahrain, from November 17 to 19.
“I am confident to make a good outing at the King Fahad tournament next week, he said.
After that Azzan looks forward to be a part of Omani team that will compete in the Pan Arab tournament in Jordan from November 27 to December 3.
National team coach Steven Troup says the whole-hearted efforts from Oman Golf Committee is behind the growth of the junior players.
“The young Omani golfers are utilising their opportunity to watch the top players and that along with our various programmes to develop the game in the country will see good results in the future,” Oman coach Stephen Troupe told Oman Observer.
Alain de Soultrait, Director of European Challenge Tour, was all praise for the Greg Norman-designed Al Mouj Golf course and opined that the interest shown by the Omani authorities show NEW YORK: The bribery trial of three South American ex-officials is to kick off in New York on Monday, two and a half years after US prosecutors unveiled the largest graft scandal in the history of world soccer.
Forty-two officials and marketing executives, and three companies were indicted in an exhaustive 236-page complaint detailing 92 separate crimes and 15 corruption schemes to the tune of $200 million. their real intent to develop the game in the country.
“It is a fantastic golf course and all the 45 players must have enjoyed competing here with sea on the backdrop.”
“With the European Tour event returning to Muscat in February 2018, it shows the game is here to stay,” said De Soultrait.
Nick Tarratt, Regional Director of the European Tour Middle East, said: “Growth of golf in the region generally has been good. However, it will take some time to generate some top quality players from the region. But it is an evolving process.”
“The portfolio of Oman as among a golf destination will get good boost when the European Tour event comes to Al Mouj in 2018,” he added.
It is significant that Oman has developed a notable pool of young golfers led by Azzan al Rumhy, he said.
Clement Sordet of France won the season-ending event of the European Challenge Tour, while Tapio Pulkkanen of Finland topped the rankings after 27 events. The 15 highest ranked players have all now earned cards to play in the elite European Tour.
Pulkkanen won the Rolex special award for topping the Road to Oman rankings.
The tournament closed with a ceremony attended by guest of honour Dr Abdul Munim Al Hasani, Minister of Information, as well as VIP guests and the bank’s senior management.
The NBO Omani Amateur Strokeplay Championship was held at the Al Mouj Golf and Ghala Valley Golf Club. The first round saw 35 young Omanis compete, with the top six progressing to play at the Al Mouj Golf.
US prosecutors announced the indictments on May 27, 2015, lifting the lid on a quarter of a century of endemic corruption in the heart of FIFA, soccer’s governing body.
Yet when jury selection begins at a federal court in Brooklyn, scheduled Monday, only three are going on trial — three fabulously wealthy and once powerful soccer officials from South America.
They are charged with racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy.
The most high-profile is Jose Maria Marin, 85, former president of Brazil’s Football Confederation — the sport’s organising body in one of the premier soccer-playing nations in the world.
Since his arrest at dawn by Swiss police in a five-star Zurich hotel and extradition, he has been out on bail, living in luxury at Trump Tower.