‘ADVANCING TO QUARTERFINALS IS OUR INITIAL TARGET IN FIFA BEACH SOCCER WC’

The long serving beach soccer coach Talib Hilal said that advancing to the second round is the initial target for the team at Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup Russia 2021 which will be held from August 19 to 29.

The experienced national coach added in his exclusive remarks to the Observer that the Sultanate’s team played with all the teams which are in our group D including Portugal, Uruguay and Senegal.

“In the previous edition of Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay, we had played against Portugal who were the defending champion. The match ended for Portuguese 3-1. Moreover, the Sultanate have met against Uruguay in 2019 and Senegal few weeks ago. The national beach soccer managed to register victories against Uruguay and Senegal,” he said.

Oman national beach soccer team is placed in group D with title holders Portugal, Uruguay and Senegal at Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup Russia 2021. The hosts, Russia, lead the group A alongside with Asian representatives Japan, the United States and Paraguay. Runners-up of the 2019 AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup, UAE, were grouped with Mozambique, Spain and Tahiti in Group B.

“Sealing a direct ticket from group matches and moving to quarterfinals round is the current goal for the team. We will think for further goals after confirming our attendance in the next round. I have full confidence on my team players to accomplish this target in this edition after three attendances of the team in the previous editions of Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup in Italy 2011, Portugal 2015 and Paraguay 2019. I will depend on the same faces who took part in the last Dubai friendly international tournament and the team ended the event as runners-up. The squad featured experienced team members who played in all and some of the of Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup championship including: Jalal al Sinani and Yahya al Oraimi beside other members as well,” he said.

Commenting on the upcoming overseas camp in Ukraine, the former Fanja player said: “The Ukraine preparatory camp will be one of the significant stations in team’s preparation for the showpiece championship as the team will meet tough teams including the hosts Ukraine, Turkey and other teams. We need to play against strong teams ahead of the top assignment to shape the full readiness of the squad.”

Oman had completed their participation in the International friendly beach soccer tournament in Dubai which concluded on June 26.

Coach Talib Hilal’s men finished the event as runners-up. The Sultanate had suffered defeats in the first two matches in the tournament against Senegal 3-2 and UAE 2-1. Then, the Sultanate had bounced back and registered a 6-5 win over Senegal and a 7-6 triumph in penalties against the UAE.

In the previous edition of Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay, we had played against Portugal who were the defending champion. The match ended for Portuguese 3-1. Moreover, the Sultanate have met against Uruguay in 2019 and Senegal few weeks ago. The national beach soccer managed to register victories against Uruguay and Senegal

TALIB HILAL, HEAD COACH Oman beach soccer team