Muscat – The first Omani women’s national football team was unveiled on Tuesday at a glittering ceremony at Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

The launch was a culmination of years of hard work by Oman Football Association (OFA) and Omani girls who have passionately followed their heart to beat all odds and represent Oman internationally.

“Since childhood, I have been playing football and it was a dream to represent Oman, which has come true now. I am really happy that we got this opportunity to represent Oman and be part of the first Omani women’s national football team,” said goalkeeper Husna al Musawi.

A fan of Ali al Habsi, Husna looks up to him for inspiration. “We did meet him once, and hope to meet him more in the future and learn from him.”

Like Husna, her teammate Maather al Harthy is also a fan of Habsi and her favourite club is Seeb. She said, “Talks about women’s teams have been going on since 2008. We kept on trying and finally it happened.”

Maather feels more excited than nervous. “I have loved football since I was young. My father, aunts and my cousins get together to play football just for fun in our home garden.”

In her address at the launch, Hon Lujaina Mohsin Darwish, board member of OFA and chairperson of Women’s Football Committee, said, “Since I became a member of OFA, one of the tasks given to me was to create the Omani women’s national team.”

Forty clubs from all over Oman went through the selection process and 14 teams played in the first Omani women’s football tournament held recently. “After the tournament, we sat as a committee and handpicked the 18 best players for the national side,” Hon Lujaina said.

Maha Hamad Janoud, head coach, said, “This is a good team, but they need to work hard for the skills required to compete in international games.”

Hon Lujaina thanked H H Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, for his support. “It gave us courage to take on the challenge and helped us form the national team. Thanks also go to Salim bin Said al Wahaibi, chairman of OFA, for all his efforts and support.”

She congratulated the team and wished it luck for its first official participation in an international tournament in Saudi Arabia next month.

(Photo and text by Syed Fasiuddin)