Dhofar (A) Clinches Title of 2026 Athlete Preparation Centres Hockey Fives Festival

Dhofar: Dhofar (A) were crowned champions of the 2026 Athlete Preparation Centres Hockey Fives Festival. The event was organized by Oman Hockey Association at Oman Hockey Stadium in the Wilayat of Al Amirat, with the participation of eight teams representing four athlete preparation centres. According to Oman News Agency, Dhofar (A) secured the title after defeating North Al Batinah (B) in the final match via penalty shootout, with a score of 3-2, following a 4-4 draw at the end of regular time. In the third-place playoff, Dhofar (B) triumphed over North Al Batinah (A) with a 5-3 victory, enabling the Athlete Preparation Centre in Dhofar Governorate to claim both first and third place in the tournament. The festival witnessed the participation of approximately 100 players representing the athlete preparation centres in A'Seeb, Qurayyat, Dhofar, and North Al Batinah, with each centre fielding two teams (A and B). The competitions were conducted under a single-round league format in accordance with the hockey fives system. The organization of this festival falls within Oman Hockey Association's developmental programmes aimed at discovering national talent, broadening the participation base of the sport, refining the skills of young players, and preparing them to represent the national teams in the future, thereby contributing to the continued advancement of hockey development in the Sultanate of Oman.