Al Shatti beach was the battle ground for the first omanoil Beach Football Championship 2004 over the weekend. During the two day event, thirty two teams competed in a beach football championship, playing five rounds of football before the winning teams were declared at sundown on Friday evening.

Proving to be a weekend of action, the event organized by parent company Oman Oil Marketing Company SAOG had something for everyone including face painting, a coloring competition, clowns and a model rodeo bull for those willing to test their balance.

With many teams bringing their supporters, friends and families the atmosphere buzzed. Opening the championship on Thursday was Mohammed Al Manwari, Director General of Youth Sports and Activities and Mike Wilson, Managing Director Oman Oil Marketing Company.

“This competition is one of our ways of thanking the general public for their support over the last few months. Many customers have remained loyal to us during the challenging re-branding period. Through the organization of this championship, we hope that many will be able to enjoy a fun weekend, courtesy of omanoil.”

Fun and action were certainly high on the lists of many people present at the weekend. Teams taking part in the championship came from many locations, largely the Muscat region, but with one team from as far a field as Salalah. Local team Sad Al Ansab were crowned the omanoil Beach Football Champions 2004 following a gripping final with Barcelona. Struggling to the very end, victory was achieved by Sad Al Ansab with a final score of 1 goal to nil in the last minutes of the match. Runners up in third position were Al Jisir B with Bait Al Hail in fourth place.

Keeping the crowds dancing, ensuring morale remained high and giving the matches the edge with their musical interludes were DJ’s H and Moh’d from Capital F. Competition prizes were given away throughout the course of the weekend, with special awards presented to key people at the close of the competition. Autographed football strips from UK football celebrities, Manchester City’s Danny Tiatto, Newcastle United defender Jonathan Woodgate, who has 5 caps for England and Wolverhampton Wanderer’s Paul Ince, who has achieved an impressive 54 caps for England were awarded to participants under the categories of Best Player (Sad Al Ansab), Best Goal scored in the Final, (Sad Al Ansab) and finally to the person who could stay on the rodeo bull the longest!

Summing up how many of the competitors felt, Ahmed Al Mandhri, team member of Al Jisir said “My team was very proud to participate in the omanoil Beach Football Championship. Thank you to all of you who participated in the championship and to those who took the time to organize it.”

Supporting the omanoil Beach Football Championship 2004 were Tanuf who supplied water for many of the players, Oman Today, Photocentre and NTI.

Summing up Hisham Al Alawi, Corporate Affairs Manager Oman Oil Marketing Company said, “The omanoil Beach Football Championship 2004 has been a great success, we’re looking forward to running this again next year.”

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