New coach Silhavy instils confidence in Red Warriors

Following the appointment of Czech Republic’s Jaroslav Silhavy as Oman football team coach less than two months ago, the national team has embarked on a journey of resurgence, turning the tide of fans’ despair following the Red Warriors’ disappointing exit from the group stage in the AFC Asian Cup under Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic in January.

Silhavy, tasked with the clear mission of securing victories for Oman, has wasted no time in creating his impact. Oman’s latest triumph, a commanding 2-0 victory over Malaysia at the Bukhit Jalal National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, marks their second consecutive win under his stewardship in the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Group D tie.

Silhavy’s tenure commenced with a convincing win on March 21, as Oman outclassed Malaysia 2-0 at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat. The successive victories have injected a palpable sense of confidence into the team, igniting aspirations to clinch the group’s top spot with two matches remaining.

While Kyrgyzstan currently lead the standings with nine points, ahead of Oman only on goal difference, with Chinese Taipei languishing at the bottom, Malaysia hold the third spot with six points.

In Tuesday’s triumph, Oman showcased a polished performance, with goals from Omar Al Maliki and Mohammed Al Ghafri.

Reflecting on the consecutive wins, Silhavy said, “The match was more challenging than the first one we played last week in Oman. The Malaysian team, playing at home, aimed to recover from last week’s defeat. We controlled the match and created many chances, and I’m pleased with the players’ performance, bringing joy to our fans.”

He underscored the team’s unity and determination, and said, “We still have two more games, and we’re in a good position. We’ll strive to keep our winning momentum in the matches in June.”

Silhavy expressed satisfaction on earning three crucial points in the away game in Kuala Lumpur. “We came with a clear goal to secure three points, and I’m pleased we achieved that. We’ll continue working hard for the remaining two games, including an away game against Chinese Taipei on June 6, followed by hosting Kyrgyzstan in the concluding group match on June 11.”