2013–14 Oman Professional League

The 2013-14 Oman Professional League (known as the Omantel Professional League for sponsorship reasons) is the 38th edition of the top football league in Oman. The Oman Football League got the seal of approval of a professional league on 1 September 2013 and will henceforth be called the Omantel Professional League (OPL).[1] The season began on 13 September 2013, and concluded on 16 May 2014. Al-Suwaiq Club were the defending champions, having won their third title in the previous 2012–13 Elite League season.[2] On Sunday, 28 April 2014, Al-Nahda Club were crowned the champions of the inaugural Oman Professional League with one game remaining after Al-Suwaiq Club edged out ten-man Fanja SC 5-3. Fanja SC needed a draw or a win on Sunday to prolong the fight for the OPL title, after Al-Nahda Club defeated Saham SC 4-3 to take their tally to 51 points, but its defeat dashed any hopes for the eight-time winners to match the record of nine titles, held by Dhofar S.C.S.C. in the 37-year-old history of Oman's top flight competition.[3][4]

Oman Professional League
Season2013–14
ChampionsAl-Nahda
RelegatedMajees
Al-Ittihad
AFC Champions League qualifiersAl-Nahda
2015 AFC CupFanja
Matches played182
Goals scored484 (2.66 per match)
Top goalscorer Juma Saeed
Mohammed Al-Ghassani
(16 goals)
Biggest home winAl-Seeb 8–1 Al-Ittihad
(17 April 2014)
Biggest away winAl-Shabab 2-6 Al-Nahda
(16 May 2014)
Highest scoringAl-Seeb 8–1 Al-Ittihad
(17 April 2014)
Al-Suwaiq 6–3 Majees
(16 May 2014)
Longest winning run(5 games)
Fanja
Longest unbeaten run(11 games)
Al-Nahda
Longest losing run(6 games)
Al-Oruba
Mjees
Sur

Teams

This season the league had 14 teams. Oman Club and Salalah SC were relegated to the First Division League after finishing in the relegation zone in the 2012–13 season. Al-Tali'aa SC were also relegated after losing the relegation/promotion playoff against Sohar SC. The three relegated teams were replaced by First Division League winners Al-Ittihad Club, runner-up Majees SC and second runner-up Sohar SC (Won the Relegation/Promotion playoff against Al-Tali'aa SC).

The winner and the runner-up will qualify for the 2015 AFC Cup

Stadia and locations
Al-Seeb
Al-Nasr
Dhofar
Al-Ittihad
Al-Oruba
Sur
Al-Musannah
Al-Shabab
Al-Suwaiq
Locations of teams in the 2013–14 Omani League
Club Home city Manager Stadium Capacity
Al-Ittihad Salalah Younis Amaan (Nov 2013–) Al-Saada Stadium / Salalah Sports Complex 12,000 / 8,000
Al-Musannah Al-Musannah Suhail Al-Rushaidi Seeb Stadium 14,000
Al-Nahda Al-Buraimi Hamad Al-Azani (May 2012–) Nizwa Sports Complex 10,000
Al-Nasr Salalah Akram Ahmad Salman (Feb 2014–) Al-Saada Stadium / Salalah Sports Complex 12,000 / 8,000
Al-Oruba Sur Aristică Cioabă Sur Sports Complex 8,000
Al-Seeb Seeb Youssef Al-Rafaly (Feb 2014–) Seeb Stadium 14,000
Al-Shabab Barka Mubarak Al-Gheilani (Feb 2014–) Seeb Stadium 14,000
Al-Suwaiq Al-Suwaiq Musabah Al-Saadi Seeb Stadium 14,000
Dhofar Salalah Dragan Talajić (Jun 2013–) Al-Saada Stadium / Salalah Sports Complex 12,000 / 8,000
Fanja Fanja Guglielmo Arena (April 2014) Seeb Stadium 14,000
Majees Majees Mohammed Al-Saadi (Jan 2014–) Sohar Regional Sports Complex 19,000
Saham Saham Abderrazak Khairi (Feb 2014–) Sohar Regional Sports Complex 19,000
Sohar Sohar Adnan Al-Shuaibat (Feb 2014–) Sohar Regional Sports Complex 19,000
Sur Sur Idriz Al-Murabati (Mar 2014–) Sur Sports Complex 8,000

Managerial changes

Managerial changes during the 2013–14 campaign.

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Replaced by
Al-Ittihad Noureddine Abu Falgha Sacked Younis Amaan
Al-Nasr Moscofetch Nebosha Sacked Mohammed Al-Balushi
Al-Nasr Mohammed Al-Balushi Caretaker role finished Akram Ahmad Salman
Al-Oruba Omar Mazian Released Aristică Cioabă
Al-Seeb Petre Gigiu Mutual Consent Ralf Borges Ferreira
Al-Seeb Ralf Borges Ferreira Mutual Consent Youssef Al-Rafaly
Al-Shabab Idriz Al-Murabati Sacked Mubarak Al-Gheilani
Fanja Hicham Jadrane Resigned Mohsin Al-Kharusi
Fanja Mohsin Al-Kharusi Caretaker role finished Guglielmo Arena
Mjees Senad Kreso Sacked Mohammed Al-Saadi
Saham Aristică Cioabă Resigned Ahmed Abdel-Qader
Saham Ahmed Abdel-Qader Mutual Consent Abderrazak Khairi
Sohar Abderrazak Khairi Resigned Mohammed Khasib Al-Muqbali
Sohar Mohammed Khasib Al-Muqbali Caretaker role finished Adnan Al-Shuaibat
Sur Ashraf Kasem Released Petre Gigiu
Sur Petre Gigiu Sacked Idriz Al-Murabati

Foreign players

Restricting the number of foreign players strictly to four per team, including a slot for a player from AFC countries. A team could use four foreign players on the field during each game including at least one player from the AFC country.

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 AFC Player Former Players
Al-Ittihad TBD TBD TBD TBD Sarra Camara
Al-Musannah João Luiz de Sá Miranda Márcio José Francis Koné Rabea Jumaa Youness Ouganna
Al-Nahda Mouhamed Ablaye Gaye Juma Saeed Abdessamad Ouhakki Jamal Rashid Paulo Roberto Morais Júnior
Al-Nasr Đorđe Vukobrat Youssef Chakir Mohamed Asaad Mahmoud Al-Youssef
Al-Oruba Rafael Barbosa do Nascimento Deumaga Tchangou Ajuzie Kelechi Martins Dilmurat Batur Esme Mends
Ahmed Salama
Mohammed Fawzi
Al-Seeb TBD TBD Habib Al-Dahmani Khaled Al-Brijawi Edgar Marcelino
Al-Shabab TBD Youness Ouganna Lawrence Doe Ahmed Hatamleh Luomar
Al-Suwaiq Séïdath Tchomogo Nadeem Karim Belal Abduldaim Oday Jafal Tarik El Taib
Dhofar Sarra Camara Moustapha Moctar Jamal Mohammed Mosab Balhous Godwin Attram
Fanja Felipe Lohmann Ely Cissé Mo'ayyad Abu Keshek Khaled Saad
Majees Baba Issaka Abiodun Dayo Yassine Amlil Saif Abdel Hamza
Saham Patrick da Silva Vinícius da Silva Salles Diakite Brahima Mohamed Al-Zeno Sadick Adams
Sohar Adis Culov Ekrem Hodžić Mardik Mardikian Hazem Jawdat
Sur TBD TBD TBD TBD

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Al-Nahda (C) 26 18 3 5 57 23 +34 57 Qualification to the 2015 AFC Champions League Preliminary Round[lower-alpha 1]
2 Fanja 26 15 7 4 44 27 +17 52 Qualification to the 2015 AFC Cup Play-off Round
3 Al-Suwaiq 26 13 8 5 48 32 +16 47 Qualification to the 2015 GCC Champions League Group Stage
4 Al-Seeb 26 11 9 6 38 27 +11 42
5 Al-Musannah 26 9 10 7 26 24 +2 37
6 Dhofar 26 9 9 8 28 19 +9 36
7 Sohar 26 9 9 8 35 35 0 36
8 Saham 26 9 8 9 36 34 +2 35
9 Sur 26 9 7 10 38 38 0 34
10 Al-Shabab 26 8 10 8 36 38 −2 34
11 Al-Oruba 26 9 7 10 29 34 −5 34
12 Al-Nasr 26 7 7 12 27 35 −8 28 Relegation Playoff
13 Majees (R) 26 3 5 18 27 65 −38 14 Relegation to 2014–15 Oman First Division League
14 Al-Ittihad (R) 26 1 4 21 20 58 −38 7
Source: League Table
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Al-Nahda played in the 2015 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off and failed to advance to the AFC Champions League group stage, hence entered the AFC Cup group stage.

Results
Home \ Away ALI ALM ALNH ALN ALO ALS ALSH ALSU DHO FAN MJS SAH SOH SUR
Al-Ittihad 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–3 1–2 2–3 0–3 0–2 0–1 2–2 1–3 1–2 1–2
Al-Musannah 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 0–0 0–2 1–0 1–1 3–0 3–1 3–1 1–0
Al-Nahda 2–0 3–0 3–1 1–2 1–2 3–1 4–2 0–0 0–1 6–0 0–1 2–1 1–1
Al-Nasr 2–0 0–0 0–2 2–1 0–0 3–0 1–2 1–4 1–2 1–2 0–1 0–1 2–1
Al-Oruba 2–1 1–1 1–4 2–1 1–0 2–1 0–1 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–3
Al-Seeb 8–1 1–0 0–1 2–2 1–0 0–2 0–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 2–2 3–3
Al-Shabab 2–0 0–1 2–6 4–0 1–0 0–0 2–2 2–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–1
Al-Suwaiq 3–2 3–1 1–2 0–1 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 3–3 6–3 1–2 1–0 0–1
Dhofar 1–0 2–2 0–2 2–0 4–0 0–0 0–0 2–2 0–1 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–0
Fanja 4–2 1–1 1–3 0–0 3–1 3–2 1–1 3–5 1–0 5–0 3–2 2–1 2–0
Majees 2–1 1–1 1–2 0–2 1–4 2–3 3–3 1–3 0–3 0–1 0–3 1–1 2–1
Saham 1–1 0–2 3–4 2–2 1–1 1–2 3–1 2–2 1–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 1–2
Sohar 1–1 2–0 2–1 3–3 0–1 2–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 3–1 2–2 2–4
Sur 1–2 2–0 0–2 0–0 2–2 2–2 2–3 0–2 2–2 0–3 2–1 2–1 4–1
Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2014. Source: Results
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Clubs season-progress
Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
Al-IttihadLLLDLLLLDLDLLWLLLLDLLLLLLL
Al-MusannahWWLWLDLWLDDWDWDDLLWLDWDWDW
Al-NahdaWLWWDWLWWWLWLWWDWWDWWWWWLW
Al-NasrLLWDWWLLLLDDDWLDLWLWDLWLDL
Al-OrubaLLLLLLWWWDWLWWDDWDLWDLDLWD
Al-SeebWWDDWLDDWWWDLWLLLWDDDLWWDW
Al-ShababDLWDWDWLDDLWDLDWWDLLDLWWDL
Al-SuwaiqWLWLDWWWDWDWLDDWLDDWDDLWWW
DhofarWWLWDDDLDDWLWWWWLLLDDDLDLW
FanjaDWWDDWWWLDDWWDWWWWWLLWDLWW
MajeesLLLDLLLLLLDLLLWLWDWLDLLLDL
SahamLWWLDWWWDDWWLLDLLLDWDWDLDL
SoharLWDLDDLLDDDLLWDWWLWLWWWWDD
SurWLWWLWDWWLLLLLLDWDDWDLWDDL
Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2014. Source: Clubs Season-Progress
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose

Promotion/Relegation Play-off

1st Leg
Al-Mudhaibi0 – 1Al-Nasr
Said  65'
Seeb Stadium, Seeb, Oman

2nd Leg
Al-Nasr2 - 0Al-Mudhaibi
Said  6', 90+5'
Al-Saada Stadium, Salalah, Oman

Al-Nasr secured promotion after winning 3-0 on aggregate

Season statistics
As of 16 May 2014[5]

Hat-tricks
Player Club Against Result Date
Saud Al-Farsi
Sur
Sohar
 4—1 29 March 2014
Juma Saeed
Al-Nahda
Fanja
 3—1 29 March 2014
Said Al-Ruzaiqi
Al-Oruba SC
Al-Ittihad
 3—0 29 March 2014
Abdulaziz Al-Noufali *
Al-Seeb Club
Al-Ittihad
 8—1 17 April 2014
Salim Al-Shamsi
Al-Nahda
Al-Shabab
 6—2 16 May 2014

* Player scored 4 goals

OFA Awards

Oman Football Association awarded the following awards for the 2013–14 Oman Professional League season.[6]

  • Top Scorer: Juma Saeed (Al-Nahda)
  • Best Player: Juma Saeed (Al-Nahda)
  • Best Goalkeeper: Faiz Al-Rushaidi (Al-Suwaiq)
  • Best Coach: Hamad Al-Azani (Al-Nahda)

Media coverage
Omantel Professional League Media Coverage
Country Television Channel Matches
 Oman Oman Sports TV 4 Matches per round

Controversies

The league was the subject of controversies like the wearing of similar-coloured jerseys, unusual hairstyles and excessive goal celebrations.

On 20 September 2013, the match between Sur SC and Majees SC was called off by referee Fahad Al-Subahi on the premise that the teams were wearing similar-coloured jerseys'. But just three days later, the Oman Professional League's Disciplinary Committee decided to replay the match and ruled that Subahi had erred in his judgement. The match was replayed on 12 November 2013 which Sur SC won 2-1.[7]

The Oman Football Association came out with a new code of conduct for players after a controversy in the aftermath of a football match between Fanja SC and Al-Nahda Club. According to the new regulations, OFA prohibits players from extreme celebrations on the field after scoring a goal and the governing body also bans players sporting unusual hairstyles or even colouring their hair. As a result, excessive goal celebrations and unusual hairstyles have been shown the red card by the OFA as it moves to protect the 'ethics' of the game. The decision came after Al-Nahda Club's Ivorian player Juma Saeed was seen 'inappropriately' celebrating on the field after scoring a goal against Fanja SC on 29 March 2014 that raised heated debates among the football aficionados in the country. However, the Ivory Coast player was reprimanded with a warning. OFA also decided to make the OPL's Disciplinary Committee an autonomous body with additional powers. Headed by the OFA board member Hamad Al-Hadrami, the Disciplinary Committee can now take action against players violating the new code of conduct. OFA also gave powers to the match referees who will now inspect the dressing room before any domestic games to ensure the players adhere to the code of conduct.[8]

See also

References
  1. "Professional League launched". Times of Oman. Archived from the original on 2014-02-18. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  2. "2013–14 Oman Professional League". SOCCERWAY.
  3. "AL NAHDA CROWNED OPL CHAMP". Muscat Daily.
  4. "Al Nahda celebrate Omantel Professional League title triumph with 6-2 rout of Al Shabab". Times of Oman. Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  5. "Players-Omantel Professional League". GOALZZ.com.
  6. "Times of Oman sweeps top Oman Football Association Awards". Times of Oman. Archived from the original on 2014-05-25. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
  7. "Sur-Majees match to be replayed". menafn.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-19. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
  8. "Oman Football Association raise red card over haircuts and celebrations". Times of Oman. Archived from the original on 2014-04-19. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
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