Latest news with #AlialBalushi
Observer
13-07-2025
- Observer
Khareef rush tests Oman's top class roads
SALALAH: As the annual monsoon transforms southern Oman into a green paradise, the country's most iconic road — stretching over 1,000 kilometres from the capital Muscat to Salalah — is once again under the spotlight. Known for its engineering excellence and desert vistas, the route is a vital national artery connecting the nation's northern and southern regions. But with record numbers of travellers using the road during summer, officials are warning that good infrastructure alone cannot prevent road accidents. Oman is widely recognised for the quality of its road network. In the 2025 World Population Review, the country ranked eighth globally — ahead of France and Japan — and second in the Arab world, scoring 5.96 out of 7 for road infrastructure. These high marks reflect a decade of sustained investment in highways, including the Sultan Taimur bin Faisal Road, Sultan Turki bin Said Road and dual-lane corridors across mountainous terrain. Still, the journey from Muscat to Salalah, remains challenging. The route spans vast deserts and rugged mountains; and during the Khareef Dhofar Season — when Dhofar Governorate becomes a rare oasis of rain, mist and greenery — traffic volumes surge dramatically. Ali al Balushi, an operations supervisor at a tour company in Muscat, said his company operates daily trips between Muscat and Salalah during summer. He noted that it is the busiest season of the year and that drivers are required to rest every four hours. He explained that the company uses GPS to monitor driver speeds, but ultimately, accidents occur due to human error and reckless behaviour, not the condition of the roads. To reduce fatigue-related incidents, the authorities encourage travellers to plan regular stops along the route. The Wilayats of Adam, Haima and Thamrait serve as practical points for refuelling, rest and safety checks before entering the mountain roads leading into Salalah. In response to the growing risks during peak months, the Royal Oman Police and the Ministry of Health have stepped up safety operations this year. These include mobile ambulance units, additional traffic patrols and checkpoint enforcement in areas known for speeding and dangerous overtaking. The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has designated the Sultan Said bin Taimur (Nizwa–Salalah) highway as a strategic national corridor. The road is seen as a vital connector not only for tourism, but also for economic integration between Oman's northern and southern regions. To ease pressure on the current road, Oman is undertaking one of the largest highway construction programmes in the region. The centrepiece of this effort is the new Sultan Said bin Taimur (Salalah Highway), which will extend 717 km and become the country's longest expressway. As of July 2025, 280 km of the new route have been completed, while over 400 km remain under construction. The total value of the project exceeds $671 million. In parallel, the government is finalising the dualisation of Sultan Said bin Taimur Road, a segment known for long desert stretches and limited overtaking zones. The upgrade is being completed in three phases, covering nearly 400 kilometres and valued at over RO 250 million. The improvements include expanded lanes, roadside lighting, flood drainage systems and improved signage for safer navigation. Further south, the section between Thamrait and Salalah — a 73-kilometre stretch — is undergoing rehabilitation through funding from the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development. This project involves constructing a new dual carriageway, reinforcing road surfaces and enhancing roadside safety barriers. Inside Salalah itself, Dhofar Municipality is moving ahead with a set of urban road projects to accommodate seasonal traffic and long-term growth. These include the dualisation of Sultan Qaboos Road, the construction of the Ittin Tunnel and the redevelopment of several interchanges and feeder roads, including the coastal route to Al Mughsail. The total value of these city infrastructure upgrades exceeds RO 34 million. Despite all these infrastructure gains, officials continue to stress that the most significant safety factor is still driver behaviour. Oman's roads are among the world's best, but every safe arrival still depends on what happens behind the wheel.
Observer
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman basketball continue training camp in Bahrain
MUSCAT, JULY 5 As part of its intensive preparations for the Gulf regional qualifiers for the FIBA Asia U-16 Championship, the Oman national under-16 basketball team continues its rigorous training camp in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The qualifiers will be held from July 7 to 12 with the participation of five teams: Oman, host nation Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE, following the withdrawal of Qatar from the competition. Led by Tunisian head coach Zouhair Al Ayachi and his Omani assistant Ali al Balushi, the national team is working to enhance the players' technical and physical readiness through a series of friendly matches, which have shown noticeable improvement in the team's performance in terms of both cohesion and individual and team skills. The team played three friendly matches with varying levels of performance. In the first game, Oman lost to Bahrain's Muharraq Club 54–70. Muharraq fielded a mixed squad of youth and junior players. The match highlighted defensive challenges for the Omani team, especially in countering the opponent's three-point shots. In the second game, Oman faced Jumpshot Academy, which featured players from Manama and Al Ahli clubs. Despite losing 60–76, the national team showed significant progress in team coordination and defensive coverage. The third match was a rematch against Muharraq Club, where Oman put on a solid collective performance and earned a well-deserved 76–60 victory, reflecting clear improvement on both the defensive and offensive fronts. Coach Zouhair Al Ayachi affirmed that the team is steadily progressing in terms of tactical and technical development. He noted that the improvement was gradual from one game to the next, particularly in defensive execution both man-to-man and zone defense. He also pointed to a relative improvement in three-point shooting, with the success rate increasing from 1 out of 19 attempts in the first game to 5 out of 26 in the last match. Team manager Ghassan al Busaidy echoed the coach's sentiments, stating: "The overall performance of the team is improving gradually, we started the camp with a tough match against Muharraq and expected some errors due to the players' limited experience, but the performance has improved with every game." He said "The team is starting to develop its own identity, and the understanding among players on the court is increasing. These friendly games are very important in building a strong, competitive team. We hope to maintain this positive momentum as we head into the tournament." He added, It is worth noting that Qatar's withdrawal led to a change in the tournament format. The qualifiers will now follow a single round-robin league system, with the top two teams earning direct qualification to the FIBA Asia U16 Championship. This format places added importance on each game and increases the pressure to achieve positive results from the very first round. The technical and administrative staff hope that the team will continue its upward trajectory and achieve its goal of qualifying for the Asian Championship a new milestone for Omani youth basketball.
Observer
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Basketball team begin camp ahead of Asia Qualifiers
MUSCAT, JUNE 27 The Oman national U-16 basketball team has officially kicked off its training programme at an external camp in Bahrain, held at Al Manama Club, as part of its final preparations for the upcoming Gulf regional qualifiers for the FIBA Asia Cup. The qualifiers, scheduled to take place in Bahrain from July 7 to 12, will see only two teams from the Gulf advance to the continental finals. The training sessions are being led by Tunisian head coach Zouhair al Ayachi, with support from Omani assistant coach Ali al Balushi. All 15 players on the squad reported for duty with full commitment. Oman squad includes: Saddam al Sheezawi, Khuzaima al Shibli, Rashid al Eisai, Mohammed al Sheezawi, Abdulrahim al Roushdi, Elias al Obaidani, Al Mulhim al Obaidani, Abdusamad al Subaihi, Muhannad al Battashi, Nawar al Bahlouli, Adam al Hinai, Jaid al Kindi, Saif al Yahyai, Sami al Busaidy, and Sultan al Sinani. Accompanying the team are Ghasan al Busaidy, Director of National Teams and physiotherapist Amer al Zaidi, who is overseeing the players' physical condition and readiness. The first training session focused on technical drills and player cohesion, alongside fitness exercises aimed at boosting the team's physical readiness before the official matches begin. The coaching staff is working to enhance the team's tactical performance, assigning players to specific offensive and defensive roles and implementing strategies tailored to the group stage opponents. This training camp marks the final phase of a long term preparation programme that began before the holy month of Ramadhan. It included intensive weekly gatherings, adapted to the players' school commitments and culminated in a domestic training camp held in Al Buraimi from June 13 to 24. That camp featured practical implementation of tactical plays, with players split into two groups to practice offensive and defensive schemes. The technical staff has placed strong emphasis on improving both the physical and technical aspects of the team, aiming to elevate the overall performance. During earlier stages of the preparation, the team played several friendly matches against local clubs and basketball academies in the UAE, allowing the coaching staff to assess strengths and weaknesses and make necessary adjustments. Oman will compete in Group B of the qualifiers, alongside host Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Group A includes Qatar, UAE and Kuwait. According to the tournament format, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, with the winners of those matches earning direct qualification to the FIBA Asia Cup finals. The U-16 national team hopes to deliver a strong performance that reflects the progress of Omani basketball at the youth level, with aspirations to achieve a new milestone in the Gulf region and strengthen the country's record of international participation.
Observer
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman U16 basketball team gears up for Asian qualifiers
Muscat, May 22 The Oman national under-16 basketball team continues its intensive preparations for the upcoming Gulf region qualifiers for the Asian Championship, scheduled to be held in Bahrain from July 7 to 12. The top two teams from this stage will qualify for the final continental tournament, making the upcoming competition highly competitive. As part of their preparation, the team has entered a closed training camp at the Al Buraimi Sports Complex from May 22 to 24, under the supervision of Tunisian head coach Zouheir al Ayachi and his assistant, Omani coach Ali al Balushi. This camp is considered a crucial step in the team's training plan, aiming to raise the players' technical, physical, and tactical readiness and boost team cohesion ahead of the qualifiers. The camp's first training session was held on Wednesday night, focusing on developing individual skills such as dribbling, passing, and shooting, in addition to training on quick transitions between offence and defence, team defensive coverage, and improving physical fitness. The team is conducting two training sessions daily — morning and evening — and will conclude the camp with a friendly match against the UAE U-16 national team on Sunday, to be held in the United Arab Emirates. This match is expected to be a vital test of the team's readiness. Fifteen players are participating in the camp: Saddam bin Ali al Shezawi, Khuzaimah bin Ibrahim al Shibli, Rashid bin Salem al Issai, Mohammed bin Ali al Shezawi, Abdul Rahim bin Abdullah al Roshdi, Elias bin Suleiman al Obaidani, Al Mulhim bin Said al Obaidani, Abdul Samad bin Said al Subhi, Muhannad bin Mansour al Batashi, Nawar bin Abdulaziz al Bahlouli, Adam bin Suleiman al Hinai, Jayid bin Hazem al Kindi, Saif bin Suleiman al Yahyai, Sami bin Faisal al Busaidy and Sultan bin Salem al Sanani. Also present at the camp are Ghassan al Busaidy, Director of National Teams, and Amer al Zaydi, physiotherapist. In an exclusive statement, Coach Zouheir al Ayachi explained that the Al Buraimi camp is a continuation of earlier short camps held at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher. Those camps included several important friendly matches, such as three games against the U18 national team and others against the youth teams of Seeb and Al Amerat clubs — both bolstered by U18 players. He added that the team greatly benefited from these matches, as they allowed the coaching staff to evaluate the players' performance in real-game situations and work on both weaknesses and strengths. The team also recently played a friendly match against the 'Gym Sports' Basketball Academy in Dubai, which ended in a narrow 70–76 defeat. The match was highly competitive, and all players were given an opportunity to participate. The quarter scores were as follows: Q1 (8–16), Q2 (18–19), Q3 (23–23), and Q4 (21–18). Several players stood out during the game, notably Al Mulhim al Obaidani, who scored 19 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, delivered 4 assists, made 3 blocks, and intercepted 4 passes. Adam al Hinai added 17 points and 7 steals, while Saif Al Yahyai scored 16 points, and Rashid al Issai contributed with 8 assists. Al Ayachi emphasised that such matches are instrumental in improving the team's performance, noting that the technical staff continues to work on enhancing the players' skills and readiness. He expressed confidence in the young squad's potential, seeing them as a promising foundation for the future of Oman basketball.
