Elite basketball players from the Oman Basketball Association’s Athlete Development Centres have commenced an international training camp in Alexandria, Egypt, aimed at advancing their technical skills and gaining exposure to competitive play abroad. The camp, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, runs through August 11 and is part of a broader strategic effort to nurture basketball talent in Oman.
The delegation arrived in Egypt following a domestic training period that culminated in a friendly match against Nizwa Club. Prior to departure, Abubakr al Jahwari, Vice-Chairman of the Oman Basketball Association and Chairman of the Athlete Development Centres Supervisory Committee, met with players, coaching staff, and parents to discuss the camp’s schedule and objectives. Al Jahwari described the Alexandria camp as a key phase in a long-term development initiative aimed at enhancing players' skills across technical, physical, and psychological dimensions. He emphasized that the program is designed not for immediate competitive events but to build foundational capabilities for the future of Omani basketball.
“We see these camps as an investment in the future of basketball in Oman,” al Jahwari said, noting that training would continue once the team returns, with further domestic camps aligned with the overall development plan. He also acknowledged the vital support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and the collaboration of parents in implementing the player development programs successfully.
Ghassan al Busaidy, General Coordinator of the Athlete Development Centres, explained that participants were selected based on thorough evaluations of their progress during earlier development stages. Beyond technical improvement, the camp aims to foster the players’ confidence and adaptability to international competition environments, including exposure to diverse coaching approaches.
Iskandar al Nabli, General Technical Supervisor of the Athlete Development Centres, outlined the technical aspects of the camp, which include daily intensive training sessions and a series of friendly matches against prominent Alexandria basketball clubs. The Omani team is scheduled to compete against Al Ittihad Alexandria, Sporting, Smouha, Al Tram, and Al Olympi. These matches serve as practical assessments of the players' tactical and technical growth, helping coaches to evaluate readiness for subsequent phases of the program.
Physical Preparation Supervisor Mohammed al Amin highlighted the camp’s role in appraising the effectiveness of prior conditioning regimens. By structuring training loads and matches according to scientific principles, the technical staff can monitor how well players sustain performance levels through successive games. This information will inform the next steps in their preparation, ensuring steady progress in player development.
The training initiative will continue beyond the camp with a series of follow-up activities planned to coincide with the upcoming academic year, reflecting the association’s commitment to steady and comprehensive athlete growth.