Al-Saktiwi: We aim to correct mistakes
Oman national team coach Tariq Al-Saktiwi acknowledged his team's 3-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia, pointing out technical errors and injuries that affected performance, while emphasizing the aim to correct mistakes in the next match.
Translated by Qiyas from النهار — Original source
Moroccan coach Tarik Sektioui, the head coach of the Oman national team, acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s right to a 3-0 victory in the second group stage match. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Sektioui said, “The result was heavy, and a sense of discomfort pervaded everyone because we wanted to win. We were very poor in the first half, and we gifted Saudi Arabia their first and second goals. In the second half, our performance improved, which could have given us a psychological boost, but the result was disappointing. We still have a third match ahead, in which we aim to correct our mistakes.”
When asked about not starting a second striker in the lineup, he clarified, “The question involves purely technical matters. It is the coach’s responsibility to assess his players’ capabilities, which is a basic aspect of football. The more important issue is the absence of Amjad Al-Harthi, whom we could not field due to injury, along with injuries to some young players who were expected to be available.”
He continued, “In the first half, the opponent was physically superior, and perhaps the previous match against Iraq had exhausted us. The clash with Saudi Arabia required very high mental and physical levels, as well as winning duels in both aerial and ground areas, which tilted the balance in Saudi Arabia’s favor. Despite the harsh result, it will not change our working methodology. If a dream is the goal, it requires hard work. The squad we selected was based on the available options.”
He added, “I thanked the players because they gave everything they had and did not hold back their spirit and effort on the pitch. In the second half, we changed our tactics and finished the match with three defenders. We could have returned to the game if we had scored a goal that restored hope of equalizing, but Saudi Arabia’s desire and strength prevented that.”
He went on, “As I said, things are good for us in the future. Through commitment and responsibility, we are trying to fix our mistakes. As a coach, these situations are normal for me. After every match, I conduct a careful review to identify areas for improvement in the team I coach, even if we won. I always view matters through a positive lens, in line with purely professional requirements, because football involves both wins and losses. This does not preclude a constant desire for development, whether at the individual or team level.”
