| All the Oman Football Association (OFA) members | | | | to the dark days with their miss planning and |
| and board of directors, with the exception of two, | | | | disorganization and, knowing that they only seek |
| have submitted their resignation to the Minister of | | | | easy solutions, perhaps discovered that there isn't an |
| Sports Affairs, Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidi on the 26/12 | | | | easy way back. |
| 2006. Two members, who were not present at the | | | | Impact of the resignation on out national soccer |
| board meeting, are yet to submit their resignation. | | | | team |
| The resignation of the OFA members comes in the | | | | No matter how much we like to deny it, surely there |
| wake of the below par performances of our national | | | | will be some impact, albeit minimal, on our participation |
| soccer teams in its different age categories. The | | | | in the Gulf Cup which will be held in Abu Dhabi on the |
| resignation was called upon by the general public and | | | | 17th of January of 2006. This resignation has solved |
| some 17 regional clubs. As a result, an extraordinary | | | | the disorganization with an even bigger |
| general meeting was held on 18-12-2006. | | | | disorganization. |
| To me it looks like the members of the Omani | | | | New Omani Football Association chairman ? |
| Football Association were fearful of the extraordinary | | | | I, like many others believe that H.H Shihab bin Tariq |
| general assembly and the possible resulting | | | | Al Saeed, current president of Al Seeb club, is the |
| embarrassment, hence have opted to resign instead | | | | most appropriate and if it does not materialize for |
| of being sacked. | | | | one reason or another then it is suggested that the |
| There are a few questions, however, in and around | | | | job be assigned to someone who has some football |
| this OFA resignation mainly, is it the right timing for | | | | background. |
| such an action to be called upon ? What will be the | | | | Opinion |
| impact of the resignation on our participation in the | | | | Firstly, I believe that H.E Ali Al Sunaidi got the timing |
| Gulf Cup in Abu Dhabi ? Who will be the new | | | | of the general meeting wrong given that the Gulf |
| chairman of the OFA ? Was H.E. Ali Al Sunaidi correct | | | | Cup is only 3 weeks away. In my opinion, he should |
| in scheduling an extraordinary meeting in this particular | | | | have waited until the conclusion of the Gulf Cup |
| period ? What is the real motive behind this group | | | | before taking any action to spare the soccer team |
| resignation ? | | | | and us this debacle, especially that there are around 5 |
| Only a few days after writing an article about the | | | | months between the latter cup and the Asian Cup |
| responsibilities of different entities towards the | | | | 2007 that would have proved more than enough for |
| overall well being of football in Oman (refer to | | | | this reformation. |
| Analysis of the Omani Domestic Soccer League), | | | | Secondly, I believe that the defunct members of the |
| where I have made clear that the Omani Football | | | | OFA board realized that they will be under more fire |
| Association has been the main culprit in victimizing | | | | had they waited until the conclusion of the Gulf Cup, |
| soccer in Oman, we were stunned by the news of | | | | perhaps anticipating another below par performance |
| this group resignation by the board members of the | | | | from the football team. |
| OFA. Although it has been called upon for quite a long | | | | Thirdly, I hope this situation does not get milked by |
| time by the general public, the timing of the | | | | the new OFA members should the national soccer |
| resignation is somewhat awkward and could cause | | | | team fail to live up to the nation's expectations in the |
| further debacle to the already underperforming | | | | Gulf Cup, 2007. |
| soccer national team. | | | | Last but not least, I deeply hope that the same |
| Resignation reasons that we have been told | | | | mistakes are not repeated when selecting the new |
| More than 17 clubs and the general public have been | | | | members of the OFA. The association needs fresh |
| asking for such a resignation due to the recent | | | | blood, ones that are knowledgeable in football. Ones |
| performance of the OFA. | | | | that question and critique our national head coach, |
| Hidden motives | | | | especially when the national team prepares for future |
| In my opinion, the board members were fearful of | | | | tournaments by playing friendly matches against third |
| being sacked as a result of the extraordinary general | | | | and fourth division Czech clubs while other countries |
| meeting and hence have opted to resign. They are | | | | like UAE, Qatar and Kuwait play the likes of Brazil and |
| aware that they have taken football in Oman back | | | | Portugal. |