Tuesday 29 / April / 2025
MUSCAT: Oman Football Association have confirmed that His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, Advisor to His Majesty the Sultan, will be the chief guest at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) annual awards ceremony to be held on November 28, at the Oman Convention Centre.
During the meeting, OFA Secretary General Said bin Othman Al Balushi, said “We are extremely delighted to announce that Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said as the chief guest for the occasion.”
“Said bin Othman Al Balushi said that the awards ceremony would take place at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre and will be attended by the President of FIFA Gianni Infantino, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, AFC president, Sheikh Saad bin Mohammed bin Said Al Mardhouf Al Saadi, Sports Minister at the Ministry of Sports, heads of football associations, secretary generals from 46 Asian countries along with dignitaries from Oman.
The proposal which was submitted by the OFA early last year was accepted by the Asian Football Confederation during a meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand under the chairmanship of Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, AFC president.
He further commented that the logistics support and broadcasting of the event would be handled by OFA partners which included the government departments such as Royal Oman Police, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Sports Affairs, Muscat Municipality, Oman Air, Oman Airports Authority, Oman TV, and Muscat Media Group.
Othman Al Balushi mentioned that awards would be given to Asia’s Best Player for men and women, Best Football Association who have developed the game at grassroots level, Best Futsal team, and Best Coach male and female.
According to a statement from the ruling body AFC, Yuman Suzuki and Kenti Misao from Kashima Antlers, who helped their side to an inaugural Asian Champions League victory, lead the nominations along with Qatar’s Al Sadd's Abdelkarim Hassan to be crowned AFC Player of the Year.
Suzuki, 22, stole the limelight this season with an impressive all-round play and work rate, scoring twice in the AFC Champions League, and being named the tournament's most valuable player. Kento Misao, also 22, was a stalwart in the midfield who repeatedly stopped his opponents in their tracks.
The J-League side won the Asian Champions League for the first time in their history recently by a 2-0 aggregate after their return leg against Iranian giants Persepolis ended in a goalless draw.
Australia's Samantha Kerr is aiming to clinch the AFC Women's Player of the Year title for the second year running.
The forward helped take her side to a second place finish at the AFC Women's Asian Cup in April. Kerr is up against China's Wang Shuang and Saki Kumagai of Japan.
He also pointed out that the Oman National Football senior team would play a couple of home and away friendly matches against Tajikistan from December 13 to 16 in Muscat.
The team will then head off to the UAE for an external camp from December 22 where they will play three matches. Oman will play subcontinent giants India on December 27, then on December 30 they clash with Australia followed by the game against Thailand on January 2, 2019.
