Omantel League kicks off on Thursday

Muscat: It is kick-off time. The 2023-24 Omantel League, the Sultanate of Oman’s top-tier domestic football championship, will kick off on Thursday with defending champions Al Nahda taking on promoted Al Shabab, in one of the two matches, on the opening day at the Al Rustaq Sports Complex. The match begins at 8.10pm.

The match will be preceded by the opening game of the season. It will feature former champions Sur against Al Rustaq at Sur Sports Complex at 5.45pm.

The 2023/2024 season will witness the participation of 12 clubs, two less than in the previous years with last season’s runner-up and former winner Al Suwaiq and Mussanah club withdrawing from the league.

The 12 teams participating in the new season are Al Nahda, Seeb, Dhofar, Al Rustaq, Bahla, Sohar, Sur, Ibri, Al Wahda, Al Shabab, Al Nasr and Oman clubs. The opening week fixtures will conclude on Friday. Al Wahda Club, runner-up in the first division last season, will clash with Salalah giants and record 11-time champions Dhofar Club at the Sur Sports Complex at 5:45 pm, while another Salalah powerhouse, Al Nasr, will host Bahla at the Al Saada Complex in Salalah at 8:15 pm, and Sohar Club will take on Oman Club at the Sohar Sports Complex (8.15pm).

The new season will have many firsts with the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, raffle draws for fans offering 12 cars throughout the season, monthly awards for best player, coach, goalkeeper and best team for fair play.

The season will also witness the top six finishers receiving the cash awards with the winning team taking home OMR50,000, a hike in prize-money than last season.