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| Manahil Alkindy (left) and friends get ready to cheer on their hometown boys [AL JAZEERA] |
A straw poll of the football fans flocking to the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat did not produce very diverse results in terms of who would win the first match of the 19th Gulf Cup between Oman and Kuwait.
"Oman will win, inshallah," was the first response from a young man with his face painted in the national colours of red, green and white.
"It can only be Oman," came the next reply, from another who had painted his car in spots for the occasion.
The only differing in opinion was the level of the scoreline.
Goal difference
"Three-nothing to Oman," the first man said.
"No, no, 2-1, of course," rebuffed his friend.
Hope was certainly high as the Sunday afternoon sunlight mellowed on the mountains behind the stadium in Muscat, just a couple of hours before kickoff.
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Oman have lost the last two finals of this (almost) biennial tournament, in 2004 to Qatar in Doha and in 2007 to United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi.
And with the Omanis now on home soil, the feeling is that destiny is leaning towards bestowing them with their first title.
"It is 100 per cent that Oman will win," said student Manahil Alkindy, 18, as she waved flags and sang with her friends outside the stadium.
"We are at home and the audience will help the players."
No fighting
Asked if the home crowd would give the players more fight, however, she was shocked.
"No, not at all. Omanis are gentle people," she said.
And dedicated.
Alamri Salim, 22, had travelled back to Muscat from his studies in Auckland, New Zealand, for the two weeks of the tournament.
"We will have a final with Saudi Arabia," he said. "And, inshallah, we will win."
Welder Moshid Subhai, 26, was also among the crowds thronging the entrances before the opening ceremony.
Wait and see
"At the moment, I can't control myself. And if we win? Well, what I do will be a surprise."
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| A Qatar flag lurks behind our Iraqi trio [AL JAZEERA] |
There is much to navigate before the prize can be claimed.
Oman are in a group with regional powerhouses Iraq, the holders of the Asian Cup, and who play Bahrain later on Sunday.
Haider Al-Tikrit, Yahya Zain and Kareem Alsamarah, all 19, were there to support their home country.
"The only teams we fear are Oman and Kuwait," said Kareem.
"Oman play well and are in their own country. They have some new players."
Asked if Qatar could be a problem after Iraq were beaten in the 2006 Asian Games final by the hosts in Doha, Kareem was adamant.
"That was a freak," he said.
The Gulf Cup is being contested by eight teams - Oman, holders UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and invitees Yemen.
Kuwait have won the tournament a record nine times, have 165 goals in their 18 tournaments, and recorded a 8-0 win against - you guessed it - Oman on their way to another crown in 1976.
For a proud Omani home crowd, the hope will be that that too was a freak.
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