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MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016
SPORTS Imad, Eid and Saad ignored as Lopez Caro names probables Coach’s debut The 26-player list includes a number of new faces and they are Mohammed Al Rawahi of Al Nahda, Fanja’s Khalid Al Yaqoobi, Muscat’s Mohammed Al Amri and Moahmmed Al Habsi, Suwaiq’s Harib Al Saadi, Seeb’s Omar Al Malki and Salah Al Yahyai and Al Khabourah’s Mohsin Al Ghassani. Omani captain and goalkeeping hero Ali Al Habsi heads list, which also includes Faiz Rushedi, Ahmed Al Mukhaini, Raed Ibrahim, Ahmed Mubarak ‘Kanu’, Ali Al Jabri, Qasim Said, Abdulaziz Al Maqbali.
Attacking midfielder Eid Al Farsi and defender Ali Al Busaidi were also the notable omissions
Sports Reporter MUSCAT: Star striker Imad Al Hosni as well as fellow veterans Saad Suhail and Mohammed She’eba were among the experienced players ignored as new coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro on Sunday announced a list of 26 probables ahead of the Sultanate’s two crucial World Cup/Asia Cup qualifiers. Attacking midfielder Eid Al Farsi, defender Ali Al Busaidi and forward Al Abd Al Nofli were also the notable omissions from the squad from which Lopez Caro will pick the final team for the final two Group D qualifiers — at home against Guam on March 24 and an away game against Iran on March 29. Iran currently occupy the top spot with 14 points while Oman are second on 11. The Sultanate
MAJOR CHANGES: Oman coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro, left, speaks during a press conference at the Oman Football Association Headquarters on Sunday. – ISMAIL AL FARSI/Times of Oman
team require two outright wins to ensure their progress to the next round of the World Cup qualifiers. While Imad Al Hosni and Eid Al Farsi are reported to be carrying injuries, it is Lopez Caro’s omission of Mohammed She’eba and Saad Suhail that has come as a big surprise to many. However, the Spaniard justified his decision saying ‘I have selected the team according to our situation’. Speaking at a press conference organised to announce the probables at the Oman Football Association (OFA) Headquarters,
Lopez Caro, however, said: “The doors are open for all players. At the same time no player from this list is a permanent. The players are chosen based on what we require for the team.” Lopez Caro, who previously coached Spanish giants Real Madrid and Saudi Arabia national team, also said that he expects full commitment from the players. “All the players need to prove their worth. They have to show a professional approach while playing at home or outside,” Lopez Caro said.
The probables: Ali Al Habsi (Reading, England), Faiz Al Rusheidi (Al Nasr), Riyad Al Alawi (Al Arouba), Ahmed Al Mukhaini (Al Arouba), Abdulsalam Al Mukhaini (Al Arouba), Mohammed Al Rawahi (Al Nahda), Khalid Al Yaqoubi (Fanja), Mohammed Al Musalami (Fanja), Basil Al Rawahi (Fanja), Mohammed Al Amri (Muscat), Raed Ibrahim (Fanja), Ahmed Mubarak (Maeedar, Qatar), Ali Al Jabri (Fanja), Harib Al Saadi (Suwaiq), Yasin Al Shiyadi (Suwaiq), Omar Al Malki (Seeb), Saud Al Farsi (Sur), Jameel Al Yahmadi (Al Shabab), Qasim Said (Dhofar), Mohammed Al Habsi (Muscat), Salah Al Yahyai (Seeb), Hussain Al Hadhari (Dhofar), Mohsin Johar (Saham), Abdulaziz Al Maqbali (Fanja), Saeed Abdulsalam (Al Khabourah), Mohsin Al Ghassani (Suwaiq).
OMAN CLINCH BRONZE MEDAL AT GCC ENDURANCE RACE Oman bagged the bronze medal at the GCC Endurance Championship in Bahrain. Oman team comprised Saleh Al Balushi, Hisham Al Farsi, Sultan Al Balushi and Faisal Al Farsi. Oman delegation included Ahmed Al Abri, team director, Mazin al Yahyaei, assistant director, and team manager Yousef Al Balushi. — Supplied photo
CHESS
Oman team to take part in Asian event in Abu Dhabi MUSCAT: Oman Chess Committee has selected a five-member team for the Asian Chess Cup to be organised in Abu Dhabi from March 28 to April 8. As part of the preparations for the championship, the team will
be undergoing training camp in Salalah from March 20 to 24 under the supervision of coach Bashir Al Qadimi. The Sultanate’s delegation will include team manager Waeil Al Ghurauibi. FOOTBALL
YOUR BIGGEST ROAD HAZARD IS IN YOUR HAND A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE
Watford dump Arsenal out of FA Cup LONDON: Arsenal’s bid to win the FA Cup for a third successive year ended on Sunday when they lost 2-1 at home to Watford in a pulsating quarterfinal tie. The defeat ended the holders’ hopes of becoming the first club since Blackburn Rovers in 1886 to lay their hands on the coveted FA Cup trophy three times in a row. The result appears to have condemned Arsenal to end the season without a trophy as they face elimination from the Champions League next week, unless they manage to overturn a two goal deficit against Barcelona, and they trail Premier League leaders Leicester City by eight points with only nine games left. Arsene Wenger’s men were left to rue a host of missed chances as Watford opened up a 2-0 lead in the second half with goals from Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura. Danny Welbeck pulled a goal back for Arsenal in the 88th minute but it was too late to change the result. Watford go into the semifinals alongside Premier League sides Everton and Crystal Palace. - Reuters