(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) It has been nearly six months since Dutchman Pim Verbeek took over as the Oman football team coach. With a family tragedy keeping him away during the national team's record 14-0 win over Bhutan in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifier in March, Verbeek is now set for his first major challenge with the Red Warriors as he leads them against hosts Palestine on June 13.
The 61 year old is oozing confidence as he looks ahead to a friendly against Syria, to be played at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on June 2. It will be followed by the trip to Jordan.
A day after the Syria game, Oman will travel to Jordan for an eight-day build-up spell for June 13 qualifier.
The team will then travel to Palestine on June 11 for its match against the hosts, who are expected to be the biggest hurdle in the group. Palestine won its opening group match against Maldives 3-0, while Oman steamrolled Bhutan 14-0 at home in its Group D game.
Pim Verbeek, Oman coach
However, Verbeek, in his first interview with the local media since his arrival in January, told Muscat Daily
, 'We all know that we won't be scoring 14 goals against Palestine. It will be a completely different match and that's what I am preparing the team for. Defensively, we were not tested against Bhutan. The visitors even got a chance to score. We cannot afford to do that against Palestine.'
He added, 'One of the main jobs against Palestine is to make ourselves defensively stronger. Against Bhutan, despite my absence, I had suggested to my assistant coaches, Muhanna al Adawi and Waleed al Saadi, that we needed to attack and attack. We were successful, but Palestine is a different opponent.'
'We are going there for three points'Verbeek said that he is looking for nothing less than three points against Palestine.
'We had a great start to our campaign and now we are going to Palestine looking for full three points. A victory against the hosts will put us on course of qualification as I think we need 12 points to qualify,' said Verbeek.
'The camp in Jordan is going to be of great help. The heat in Jordan is much lesser than it is here and we can look to have a successful build-up there,' said the experienced coach.
The Dutchman was satisfied with the team selection that saw the inclusion of four Olympic team players, with the squad comprising a mix of experience and youth.
'We will be going with 26 players, who have been picked on the basis of their performances with their respective clubs. My assistant coaches and I have been watching the OPL matches for the past five months and carefully monitoring the progress of the players.
'I would have wished for a friendly in Jordan, but despite the best attempts of the Oman
Football Association, we couldn't arrange it. Syria was actually scheduled to play against us on May 29, but they made a request and deferred it to June 2. In a way, it is better for us to play them a day before our departure for Jordan.'
Verbeek said that the Oman players will train on artificial turf in Jordan, which is what his team will playing on against Palestine.
'With the Holy month of Ramadan on, the fitness level of the players may not be at the peak, but I guess it's the same case with both the teams. We have studied the Palestine team's play and I believe my boys can overcome the challenge,' he said.
Habsi set to join team in Jordan
Oman's captain Ali al Habsi, who suffered a heartbreak after his club Reading FC lost to Huddersfield on penalties for a place in the English Premier League (EPL) on Monday night, will join the national team in Jordan.
Verbeek said the 35 year old goalkeeper will be given a short break to be with his family before he travels to Jordan. 'He has been in a great form and I am sure that he will ensure us a clean sheet against Palestine,' said Verbeek.
Team for Palestine: Ali al Habsi, Faiz al Rusheidi, Riyadh Subeit, Abdulaziz al Miqbali, Mohammed al Mashari, Saad Suhail, Basil al Rawahi, Abdulsalam Amor al Mukhaini, Nadhir Awadh, Ali al Busaidi, Raeed Ibrahim, Qasim Said, Abdullah Fawaz, Jameel al Yahmadi, Ibrahim al Mukhaini, Khalid Salah, Sami Khamis, Saud al Farsi, Yaseen al Sheyadi,
Mohammed al Musallami, Omar al Fazari, Mahmood al Mushaifri, Mohsin al Khaldi, Ahmed Mubarak 'Kanu', Khalid al Hajri, Mohammed Faraj, Salah al Yahyai.
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