(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Just days after having successfully hosted the inaugural AFC U22 Championship, the Oman Football Association (OFA) announced on Sunday that it has withdrawn its bid to host the prestigious AFC Asian Cup in 2019.
The OFA's decision comes as a surprise following the recent AFC U22 event, for which the sultanate and its football association earned praise from various quarters.
Confirming the decision, Sayyid Khalid al Busaidy, the OFA chairman, said during a press meet, ''We have decided not to move forward with plans to host the 2019 Asian Cup.''
However, Sayyid Khalid refused to provide any reason for the unexpected decision, only adding that 'the [Omani] government had provided all the necessary guarantees required by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)' for the bid.
The OFA chief wished the other AFC member nations in fray all the best. Neighbours Iran, UAE and Saudi Arabia are now in contention to host the 2019 Asian Cup.
Ethics committee to be formed by OFA:
Sayyid Khalid said that the OFA is in the process of setting up an ethics committee that will lay down fresh guidelines for domestic clubs and the Omantel Professional League (OPL).
The OFA chief said, ''We need to be aware of the latest rules to curb the menace of match-fixing, though the OFA hasn't received any complaints so far nor have any incidents been reported. With the launch of the OPL [this ongoing season], it is part of the standard procedure to set up an ethics committee. We have been in talks with the FIFA and the AFC regarding this for the past few months.''
Meanwhile, the OFA chief called for more support from the Ministry of Sports Affairs and sought a 'special budget' for the preparations of the national team and age-group sides that are set to take part in various AFC
Competitions.
''The senior team will compete in the Gulf Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, most likely in November, and then in the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia,'' Sayyid Khalid said. ''We also have a hectic schedule for the U19 and U16 teams, which have qualified for AFC tournaments.
''We have prepared two plans - one with the current zero-deficit budget and other in case we get grants from the government. We are hopeful [things will work out] as preparations for our teams will be based on the budget we have. In either case, our teams will give their best at the AFC competitions.''
OFA to discard five regional centres:
In a bid to develop football at the grassroot level, the OFA has decided to do away with the existing five regional centres and put in place a completely new plan for the 43 clubs.
As part of a five-year development plan, presented by the OFA's technical director Jim Selby, the clubs will be given technical and financial assistance to start an academy for players in the age group of 8-12 years
A select bunch, comprising 13-15 year olds, will then be nurtured at regional talent development centres, which will serve as 'feeder stations' for junior national teams.
However, Sayyid Khalid said the clubs would have to meet certain criteria to receive financial assistance from the OFA to get started with their academies.
Among other key decisions taken recently, the OFA would set up a technical evaluation group and a statistics and research committee. The OFA chief said that a joint venture agreement has been signed by sportswear giant Kappa and the OFA's apparel brand Taj.
Also, Oman Air has renewed its deal with the OFA till the end of the 2013-14 se
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