(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) It was in February 2014 when Frenchman Phillipe Burle parted ways with the Oman Football Association (OFA) as the national Olympic team coach following the team's disappointing campaign in the AFC U22 Championship in Muscat.
Fifteen months later Burle has achieved a rare domestic double with Al Arouba and the coach is overjoyed with the results. 'Yes it is never good to leave a young team like the Oman Olympic side. But this is professional football and I had to move on' said Burle.
'Oman is a nice place with lovely people so when I got this offer from Arouba eight months back I decided to take it up though the team was not doing well in the OPL as it was placed eighth.
'The team has quite a few players who played under me and the club officials supported me throughout. The strong backing and players' following the match plan helped us clinch a double which is also the first I have won as a coach.'
Burle said 'To win the OPL title with three rounds to spare was a big achievement and then today in front of such a huge crowd winning the HM's Cup its fantastic and a great feeling. We have worked hard for it.'
Recalling his association with the Olympic team Burle said 'I did not have bad results with the team having won a bronze at the West Asian tournament. At the AFC U22 Championship in Muscat we were in a tough group but we tried our best.'
The coach also said he is keen to continue working in Oman but it will all depend on the club's board as his contract expires after the OPL season that concludes next week.
'I am proud for what I have done with the club and I am happy that the club officials and players have supported me. It's a nice way to make a comeback in Oman' he said.
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