Al Arouba, Eid Al Farsi win top awards as ‘exciting’ season ends

The Oman Football Association celebrated the end of an ‘exciting’ football season with annual awards gala where Al Arouba and their star player Eid Al Farsi won the top awards

Sports Reporter MUSCAT: Double title winning Al Arouba Club and their star player Eid Al Farsi bagged the top awards as the Oman Football Association (OFA) celebrated the end of an ‘exciting football season’ with the OFA Awards Gala on Monday.

The Sultanate’s soccer governing body hosted the annual awards ceremony to honour the best of 201415 season at Prince Palace Hall with under the auspices of Sheikh Rashad Al Hinai, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Sports Affairs.

Al Arouba who completed a rare double by winning the Omantel Professional League (OPL) as well as the prestigious His Majesty’s Cup Football Championship were handed a cheque of OMR 50,000.

Al Arouba were also presented with a special award under achievements of the year category.

Al Arouba garnered another honour when Eid Al Farsi, who is away in India with the Paul Le Guen’s Oman national team to play a World Cup and Asian Cup qualifier, was declared the best player of the season.

Meanwhile, Fanja, runners-up in the OPL, were presented with a cheque of OMR 30,000 and third placed team Sur were given OMR 20,000.

During the ceremony, the OFA also honoured the best of first and division leagues as well as the age group tournaments. The football body also felicitated the best coaches and referees as well as sponsors, partners, various governmental and private organisations for their support during the season.

Earlier, OFA chief Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi described the just concluded football season as an ‘exciting’ one. “Today we are celebrating the conclusion of an exciting season. There have been many aspects that showed that Oman football is heading in the right direction,” he said.

Sayyid Khalid also thanked all the partners for their ‘support and involvement without which the season would not have happened’.

“We would like to thank all the clubs, sponsors, government and private organisations,” he said while also thanking the referees, coaches and players and fans for contribution the season’s success.

List of awardees

Omantel Professional League (OPL): 1. Al Arouba (OMR 50,000); 2. Fanja (OMR 30,000); 3. Sur (OMR 20,000); Fairplay: Suwaiq; Best player: Eid Al Farsi (Al Arouba); Top scorer: Kofi Nishat (Al Nasr); Best goalkeeper: Riyad Subait (Al Arouba); Most promising young player: Mohammed Mubarak (Sur); Best coach: Philippe Burle (Al Arouba); Best manager: Hussain Al Mustahail.

Mazda Professional Cup: Champions: Fanja; Best player: Mohammed Mubarak.

1st Division League: 1. Muscat Club (OMR 15,000); 2. Salalah (OMR 10,000); 3. Rustaq (OMR 7,000); Fairplay: Muscat Club; Best player: Venito (Musccat); Top scorer: Imo Philip (Salala); Best goalkeeper: Mohannad Al Huwaidi (Muscat); Best coach: Mohammed Hawali (Muscat); Best manager: Hamdan Bait Said (Salalah).

2nd Division League: 1. Bahla (OMR 7,000); 2. Jaalan (OMR 5,000); 3. Al Salam (OMR 3,000); Fairplay award: Diba; Topscorer: Jermy F (Bahla); Best goalkeeper: Saleh Rasbi (Jaalan); Best player: Osama Al Shukaili (Bahla); Best coach: Abdulaziz Al Riyami (Bahla); Best team manager: Ahmed Al Hinai (Bahla).

Under-16 League: Best coach: Naseeb Rashid (Al Khabourah); Best team manager: Hashil Al Buraiqi (Suwaiq).

Under-19 League: Best coach: Qasim Al Mukhaini (Suwaiq); Best team manager: Salim Mubarak (Seeb).

Under-23 (Olympic): Best coach: Juma Al Khaldi (Saham); Best team manager: Issa Al Foori (Seeb).

Achievers of the season: Special achievement of the season: Al Arouba (for winning both OPL and His Majesty’s Cup titles).

Age group teams achievements: Suwaiq.

GCC Clubs and age group achievements: Seeb.

Best fans: Sohar fans club.