Hi 6 10 2016

OMAN’S LARGEST CIRCULATED WEEKLY — 46,760 COPIES

VOL 10 ISSUE 39 / OCTOBER 6, 2016

THE

GET ACTIVE LIFE LESSONS, FITNESS, AND THE LOVE OF THE GAME STARTS PAGE 8

ISSUE

THIS WEEK IN OMAN

INDULGE IN A DESERT OASIS

DINE AT THE DISTRICT

GO TREASURE HUNTING

The luxurious Dunes resort offers spectacular views of the desert with half the drive-time and loads more comfort for ‘glamping’ fans.

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Fresh breads, sandwiches, pizzas, salads, and luscious pastries are on the menu at this new Bousher bakery and cafe.

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A small shop in Azaiba Mall is turning discarded remnants of the past into affordable, one-ofa-kind home furnishings.

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 39 OCTOBER 6, 2016

Give us a shout with questions, comments, compliments, complaints, or just to say “Hi” Founder Essa bin Mohamed Al Zedjali Chairman Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali CEO Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali scottarmstrong@timesofoman.com Chief Executive Editor Scott Armstrong felicia@timesofoman.com

Executive Features Editor Felicia Campbell Features Production Editor Swati Dasgupta swati@timesofoman.com

ashishdubash@timesofoman.com

Research/Copy Editor Ashish Dubash Associate Editors Salim Hamood Al Afifi Shruthi Nair

shruthi@timesofoman.com

salim@timesofoman.com

Associate Features Production Editor Mobin Mathew Blesson gautam@timesofoman.com

mobinmathew@timesofoman.com

Digital Editor Gautam Bhargav Viswanathan Chief Creative Officer Adonis Durado Associate Art Director Waleed Rabin Graphic Editor Antonio Farach Design Editor Sahir K.M. Lead Designer Ali Jani Designers Antonio Ismael Sandiego Geri Batara Sonny Gregory Fernandez Director of Digital Television Joe Morrison Photography MMG Photographers

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Chief Sales Officer Richard Pakenham

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Head Of Advertising & Marketing Aziz K. Baker Production Manager Shafi Shaik On The Cover Design by Ali Jani Photography by Shabin E For general inquiries or comments: HiWeekend@timesofoman.com

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Your calendar of the hottest events happening in Muscat this weekend

06 07 08 THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

7:00pm Go to a Show, Celebrate Women

10:00pm Party Vegas-Style

7:00pm Cook with a Masterchef

The Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra’s Ladies Chamber Ensemble and the Palestinian Folklore Group will give a special performance in celebration of Women’s celebr Day. Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf, the Moha 2013 winner of Arab Idol, wi will also make a guest appearance.

Royal Opera House R +968 2440 3300 rohmuscat.org.om

If themed parties are your thing, then Rumba Lattina is the place to be this weekend for The Fabulous Las Vegas party, which will feature EDM, house, and hip hop mashups by the Russian “mashup diva” DJ Litchi. OMR10 entry for men and couples.

Rumba Lattina The Cave Complex, Darsait facebook.com/rumbalattina +968 2465 1051

This weekend, Masterchef judge Ajay Chopra is hosting a one day cooking workshop, demonstration, and modern Indian lunch, during which he will share some of his secrets.

Reservation is required, course fee is OMR20.

Jashn Restaurant Al Khuwair +968 2448 8521 +968 9650 0942 jashnoman.com

3:00pm Indonesian Cultural Festival Experience Indonesia in Oman on Friday and Saturday on the MGM rooftop at the culinary festival, cultural performance, children’s carnival, and apparel exhibition.

Muscat Grand Mall +968 2469 1050 muscat.kbri@kemlu.go.id PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED

THE WEEKEND LINEUP

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Tell us what you’re doing this weekend: Tweet us @HiWeekly_Oman; tag us in your weekend instagram photos @hiweekly_oman; or share with us on FB/hiweekly

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 39 OCTOBER 6, 2016

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WEEKEND DOWNLOAD

Have you tried any of these five? What do you think of them? Did we miss any of your favourites? Tag us on Instagram @hiweekly_oman and tell us about it on facebook.com/hiweekly

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 39 OCTOBER 6, 2016

FIFA 17

THE DETAILS Name: FIFA 17 Publisher: EA Sports Genre: Sports Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Xbox Download: Origin (PC), the PlayStation Store, and the Windows Store (Xbox)

WITH GAUTAM BHARGAV VISWANATHAN

FIVE TO TRY CARDIO EXERCISES

SKIPPING ROPE There aren’t many exercises that offer versatility (you can do it anywhere) while burning a massive load of fat, quite like jumping rope. Easy and fun, this exercise burns more than 10 calories a minute and is great for heart-health.

60-minute session: 700 to 1,000 calories burned (approx)

CYCLING You might be seated while doing this workout, but it is far from relaxing. Biking torches calories and tones the lower body and core, and doesn’t matter whether you are outdoors or indoors, just so long as you keep pedalling. Hit the hills or increase the resistance on stationary bikes for a bigger burn.

WALKING UP HILL Walking, while a great low-intensity workout, can get a bit boring. Add the challenge of incline, and this leisurely activity becomes an intense cardio workout.

Walking up hills or stairs will firm up the lower body, and adding a backpack with some books for weight will amp-up the cardio and toning benefits.

60-minute session: 600 to 1,000 calories burned (approx)

60-minute session: 400 to 600 calories burned (approx)

SWIMMING Swimming can be a killer workout, offering a full-body a challenge, with zero impact on your joints. Go for a leisure swimming or do laps and practice your butterfly and freestyle strokes to melt stubborn fat and tone upper and lower body.

60-minute session: 400 to 800 calories burned (approx)

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 39 OCTOBER 6, 2016

DANCING Who doesn’t love to dance? Besides being fun, it’s a full body workout that crushes calories. You can join a class, or just put on your favourite song and start dancing. As long as you keep moving, the calories will burn. Check out the,YouTube channel “The Fitness Marshall” for fitness-focuses dance sessions.

60-minute session: 200 to 500 calories burned (approx)

Zinédine Zidane and Arsene Wenger instructing their charges and chivvying them forwards from the side lines, takes the game to the next level.

Another FIFA first is the introduction of the Japanese League and the national team, opening up another avenue of discovery in FIFA’s famed Career Mode. All this is fabulous, but the most significant addition to FIFA 17 is “The Journey”.

EA is known for the creation of some of the best role playing games around, including Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, Kingdoms of Amalur and Dragon Age, and they have employed many of the same elements that made those games successes into The Journey.

An immersive footballer experience, the game gives players a first-hand view of the rise (and fall) of professional footballers, chronicling the life of Alex Hunter, an 11-year-old English starlet who is encouraged to take up the sport by his grandfather, jumper-and-tweed-coat-sporting, Jim Hunter, a former striker who serves as his mentor after his father walks out on him. The player guides young Alex through his career, choosing which clubs he plays for and which sponsors he signs with.

There’s no skipping matches here: Everything Alex does on the pitch will count towards the shaping of his footballing legacy. His off the pitch actions matter as well. Answer aggressively in press conferences and slack off in training, and you can expect to be dropped from the team sheet for the next match. Treat the press like your friends and have an early night instead of going out on the town and you’ll be one step closer to superstardom. Talk about living the fantasy.

—gautam@timesofoman.com

PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED

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here wasn’t much of a difference in the FIFA series of games between FIFA 13 and FIFA 16, and EA Sports knew they had to act, responding brilliantly with their latest annual football offering.

FIFA 17 is a game that will make newcomers fall in love, and make die-hard fans fall in love all over again. The game uses EA’s new Frostbite engine to power its graphics, and incorporates gaming elements previously used to construct some of its most popular role-playing role playi games, such as Need For Speed: The Th Run, Medal of Honor: Warfighter, Warfighte Army of Two, Mirror’s Edge Cata Catalyst, and the overwhelmingly popular, Mass Effect. The new popu graphics overlay augments players’ o experience experienc of the FIFA series with gorgeously gorgeousl done up stadia complemented by impeccable renditions of players on the pitch, courtesy of EA’s new faceface-scan technology, which was used to incorporate every footballer in presently in the game.

Hardly limited to the graphical overhaul, it is the subtle changes in team chemistry that make FIFA 17 chem ground breaking.

Players are now br able to tim time their runs to an unprecedented lev level of precision and analyse which opposition defenders are opp capable of o anticipating new moves through better defensive shielding b skills, allowing for a balanced, enallo thrallingly thrallingl challenging game. While gamers will w definitely enjoy the perfect reproductions of Cristiano re Ronaldo ffacing off against Mesut Özil on a pristinely manicured Santiago prist Bernabeu, Bernabeu for the first time, FIFA has incorporated team managers into the incorpora game. Adding this small but sigAdd nificant d detail with the presence of

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 39 OCTOBER 6, 2016

THE WEEKEND ESCAPE

DUNES OF DESERT LUXURY

PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED

STORY SWATI DASGUPTA

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f you have been in Oman for a while, you most likely have experienced the wilds of Wahiba Sands. En route, sporadic bursts of green palms mingle with the browns and greys of the majestic Hajar Mountains until, suddenly, you find yourself amid that undulating sea of golden sand dunes with its ever-changing patterns dancing across the vast expanse. The thrill of exploring the remote trails of the desert is unique and glorious, but sometimes you aren’t quite in the mood for so much adventure, or such a long drive.

Yet, if you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself romanticizing about enjoying feeling of hot sand under your feet, staring out at gentle dunes as far as the eye can see, all the while surrounded by Arabianstyle luxury (and air conditioning). This might sound like a mirage, perhaps brought on by the sizzling Muscat weather, but I found such a place. Set amidst a natural landscape about an hour-and-a-half away from Muscat, Dunes by Al Nahda aesthetically captured the mystery and magnificence of desert wilderness, while offering world class luxury in a modern-meets-ancient-desert-camp kind of way. So, last weekend, I headed off to a different desert with my family and some like-minded friends to indulge in pampered exploration.

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THE DESERT OASIS DUNES BY AL NAHDA Wadi Al Abiyad Sands, Barka +968 9723 5700 dunesbyalnahda.com Special Autumn Rate (through October 31)

Friday 12.00 Leave Muscat for Barka. Reach Al Nahda Resort and Spa Barka in about an hour. Cross Al Nahda and continue driving straight for another 30-minutes to reach Dunes. (If you aren’t sure of the way, you can ask the property for a pick-up or to guide you from Al Nahda Resort Barka).

14.30 You’ll feel like royalty the moment you enter the gates and roll up the paved drive that leads to the open lobby. Check-in formalities are done in a jiffy, and you’ll be on your way to your accommodations within minutes. Available in three categories: Luxury tents, suites, and royal tents, all the options offer modern amenities and stunning views.

15.00 Even if you aren’t tired (the drive is not very long), the cosy bed beckons you to take a short afternoon nap. Just be sure to unfurl the thick curtains of the tent first, so that you can watch the sun set behind the white sands from the comfort of your bed.

• Breakfast and dinner (for two) • Hotel activities (kites, bikes, kid’s play area) • Free wifi • Free home pick-up and drop-off Autumn Rates OMR120 per night Royal packages available from OMR300

20.00 Dinner at Dunes is a welcome surprise, as it isn’t a buffet spread (as we have come to expect after extensively travelling in Oman), but is a proper, sit-down, fine dining a la carte meal, with options galore to choose from. The resort is a gastronomical delight. The open-air, all-day dining at Fleur Restaurant means an ambience of modern Omani decor, impeccable service, and, of course, excellent cuisine. From carrot soup and kebabs to grilled lobsters and chicken biryani, all served against the backdrop of sand and sky, everything is fresh and delicious, an overall reverie.

22.00 Hit the bed early if you don’t want to miss the sunrise.

Otherwise, sit out in front of your tent and gape at the millions of stars in the inky black sky; soak in the calm with a nightcap; or sit and have a long chat under the desert sky.

Saturday 4.30 Wake up to the sound of the wind and the smell of pure air.

Take an early morning stroll and wait for the sunrise.

17.00 Watch the sun fade away in all its glory behind the white sands of Wadi Al Abiyad. Whoever had said “there is nothing is more musical than a sunset” was so right. Sip on a cup of green tea and bask in the tranquillity of the scene until darkness has enveloped the horizon, and the artful lighting of the resort has come on.

18.00 This calm will soon be broken if you have children, like I do, so send them out to play on mini bikes or in the children’s play area, which has many activities to keep them busy. If they are feeling as lazy as you are, the resort also has children’s movies on DVD to keep them entertained. There is a wide choice, so let the kids take their pick and tuck them into the super luxurious tent for an evening of movie watching.

19.00 Once the kids are settled, step out of your tent to be completely charmed by the beautiful, twinkling lights that give the resort a majestic air. Take a walk along the pathways inside the property, and enjoy the cool night breeze.

5.00 Silently watch the sun cast its golden glow over the resort and the rippling sands of Wadi Al Abiyad.

8.00 Take a nice long bath and then head to breakfast, which, like dinner, is also a la carte. Choose as much as you like, and the efficient chef will rustle it up in no time.

10.30 Spend the rest of the morning dune bashing, quad bike riding, sand surfing, and camel riding, or visit the spa for hot sand therapy, and a massage. There are enough activities, both posh and adventurous, to keep you occupied from dawn to dusk, though resting and relaxing, taking in the views from your tent oasis, is also a fine option.

12.00 Filled with memories of starry skies, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, sumptuous food, and the exotic backdrop of the sand dunes, slowly start your drive back home.

-swati@timesofoman.com

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he German-managed Extra Divers chose to set up shop at the boutique Sifawy Boutique Hotel, parking their three boats in its pristine marina, because of the property’s proximity to the little explored Ras Abu Daoud reefs — around which the team has discovered numerous wrecks — and the lesser-visited Fahal Islands, while still being close enough to the famous Daymaniyat Islands for day trips.

In these fertile waters, stingrays, leopard sharks, eels, and all manner of fish can be found, and curious dolphins often follow the dive boats. Sounds great, right? When it comes to exploring Oman’s sea life, there is only one question, “Snorkelling or Diving?”

Snorkelling is the simplest and most inexpensive option. Requiring no training or experience aside from the ability to swim, snorkelling involves using a fin to help gently propel you through the water, a mask for clear viewing, and a mouthpiece attached to a tube through which you can breathe without taking your head out of the water. It is best to use what’s called a dry snorkel, which has a safety valve that closes when you go underwater (helpful if you go too deep or a wave splashes over you), thus preventing a mouth full of sea water. When water does end up in your pipe, you will learn to clear the tube by exhaling.

The tube itself is usually only about 30 centimetres long, so snorkelling primarily allows you to enjoy uninterrupted views of the sea life below you from just under the surface of the water, though many snorkellers dive deeper to get a closer look at things before returning to the surface to clear their tube and continue snorkelling. Oman is especially well-suited for snorkelling, as the waters are crystal clear and much of the sea life swims close to the surface.

Scuba diving is a very different experience, allowing divers to explore deeper waters thanks to an air supply tank that is worn on the back. With diving, you can really get into the wrecks and see the creatures hiding in the darker depths. It does, however, require quite a bit of equipment and some proper training to get started. To get out into the ocean on a dive, you first need to be either PADI or SSI certified for Open Water Dives, which mean you have been taught (usually on dry land, then a pool, then the ocean) how to use scuba equipment safely. Once certified, you can dive down to 18-metres with a dive buddy of equal or higher certification (it is never safe to dive alone) anywhere in the world, and the certification never expires, though if you haven’t gone on a dive in a few years, it is good to have a refresher course.

The Open Water Certification is the first in a series of advancing dive classes and real scuba enthusiasts can go on to certify for deeper dives or night dives, as rescue divers, and eventually, as dive masters. The frequent diver typically will buy their own gear, but in the beginning, nearly every dive outfit has equipment available for rent.

In Sifah, Extra Divers offer introductory dive classes, dive trips, and certification courses and you can get open water certified in four days. Equipment rentals, for everything from the wet-suit to underwater cameras, are available as well. If you aren’t ready to try diving, and you just want to get out there and see some fish, Extra Divers also offer full-day and half-day snorkelling trips, leaving no excuse not to take a peek at the incredible oceanic world lying just under the surface.

—felicia@timesofoman.com

There are all kinds of places to snorkel and dive around Muscat, with dive shops and crystal clear waters from Mussanah to Sur. Each area of coastal waters boasts its own charms, so we recently took a short, 45-minute drive north to see what the waters of Sifah had to offer.

STORY FELICIA CAMPBELL

EXTRA DIVERS SIFAH Sifawy Boutique Hotel, Sifah +968 9725 9099 extradivers-worldwide.com/en Snorkelling Rates Full-day, morning and afternoon snorkel (equipment included): OMR23 Adults/ OMR20 Kids Afternoon single snorkel trip (equipment included): OMR17 Adults/ OMR15 Kids) Additional OMR10 surcharge for day trips to the beautiful Daymaniyat Islands Scuba Beginner Rates (includes equipment and permits) Bubblemaker (8-10 years old): 30 minutes: OMR30 Discover Scuba: OMR45 Single Dive or OMR70 Two Dives Scuba Diver (2 Days): OMR95 Open Water Diver (4 Days): OMR 175 SSI Book: OMR13 SSI Certification Fee: OMR25 Advanced Courses do not include equipment or permits, but rentals are available. See the Extra Divers Sifah website for more details.

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MUSCAT PARENTS

STORY SWATI DASGUPTA PHOTOGRAPHY SHABIN E.

Talal Taimur Al Said has seen the way team sports can transform the lives of young players, so when he opened Next Generation Sports in Oman recently, he did so in hopes of helping children with behaviour issues to turn their attitudes around, and to shape the leaders of tomorrow through sports-based player development.

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li ran towards the basket, jumping and slamming the ball down over the rim. The crowd at The Sultan’s School went crazy, cheering and clapping for the slam dunk, excitedly watching the children on the court.

Talal Taimur Al Said, head coach of the newly launched basketball academy, Next Generation Sports, watched silently, signalling to Ali to run for his second shot.

Next Generation Sports Oman, is a youth basketball programme initiative through which Talal hopes to not only teach children about basketball, but teach them life skills as well.

“Our aim is to create a foundation where young people can grow and are encouraged to expand their horizons. We encourage good, disciplined behaviour, offering a safe environment and healthier lifestyle alternatives,” said Talal, while talking at length about the new academy.

The Omani sports pro studied sports management for three-years in South Africa, where he coached at the primary school, high school, university, and club level for 12-years and opened his first academy, Mahikeng Basketball Academy (MBA). Though he enjoyed his time in South Africa, he always nurtured the dream of coming back to Oman to do something for the children of his homeland through basketball.

“At NGS (Next Generation Sports) we focus on shaping tomorrow’s leaders through sports-based player development, placement, and league activities for children ages seven to eighteen. Our programme also includes organising weekend games that are open to the public and the community,” Talal explained.

Whether his kids shoot hoops or dribble

NGS ACADEMY PROGRAMMES The season runs from September through April and girls and boys teams are broken down into three age groups: 5-10, 11-15, and 16 and above.

Course Sessions: For 5-10, it is two hours a week, for 11-15 it is three hours a week, and for 16 and above it is 4 hours a week.

Course Fees: Registration is OMR35 and OMR5.500 per class.

the ball well, basketball is a game that keeps them fit as it requires a lot of running and jumping, helping to burn of calories and develop cardiovascular endurance. According to experts, one can burn 160-765 calories playing basketball for 30 minutes, and since it keeps the heart rate up, the endurance it requires promotes heart health and reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke later in life. “In addition to basketball, we also go through exercise and stretching routines, along with building stamina and weight loss,” said Talal. Apart from the wide range of physical skills, research has also shown that children develop a great deal of attention while playing the game, reducing their stress and enhancing confidence.

Talal truly believes in the power of this sport to help children in their lives off the court.

He feels that working as a team and learning physical discipline can go a long way in helping with anger management and other behavioural issues. As with any sport, basketball has rules, and breaking them can result in penalties and time off the court. In that way, he has seen the game immensely improve the self-discipline of his students, while funnelling the typical teenage angst into healthy competition.

“It is inappropriate to punish a bad behaviour, and at the same time it’s essential to show them the right way. Discipline should be implemented with the main intention to teach and help them focus. As a coach it is our duty to keep them motivated,” he explained. “A good shot at the game can increase your selfesteem and help gain more confidence.” And that’s something every child could use more of.

—swati@timesofoman.com

Course Timings: Tuesday: 5.30pm-7.45pm (ages 5-10 & 11-15); Thursday: 5.30pm-8.10pm (ages 5-10 & 16-20); Saturday: 2pm-6.30pm (ages 11-15 & 16-20) Course Location: The Sultan’s School Registration Period: Registration is open throughghout but the Academy encourages to first go for free practice session and enrol for the classes.

Weekend Open Days: Held once a month everyy Saturday. This month it’s on 15th from 4pm-6pm..

Cost OMR5.500 per class.

NEXT GENERATION SPORTS OMAN The Sultan’s School, Seeb +968 9672 9645 nextgenerationsportsoman@ gmail.com Instagram: @nextgenerationsportsoman

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Breads & Brunches FIRST LOOK

Big B ig windows, windows, p polished olished ccement ement flo oors, ors, aand nd vvintage intage b brick rick walls off ffresh baking w alls aare re hhome ome tto o tthe he iintoxicating ntoxicating aaroma roma o resh b aking dough The District Bakery, myy nnew d ough aatt T he D istrict B akery, m ew ffavourite avourite sspot pot ffor or Bousher. llate ate brunches brunches iinn B ousher.

STORY ST S TOR ORY & PHOTOGRAPHY PH HO OT TOG GRA RAP PH H HY YS SALIM ALIM AL MA AL L AF A AFIFI FIF FI

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The The District Th he menu meenu nu at at Th T he D Di isttri rict ct is ct is a combination co omb m in i at atio on off ttraditional raadi radi ditiion onaall Lebaonal Leeb baa-nese delicacies French twist, nessee d ne ellic icac acciiees with with wi itth h a hint hin nt o off F rreenc nch h tw twis wisst, t iincluding nclu nc cllu udi ding ng ffreshlyresh re resh hly lybaked with vabaaked keed breads brea br eads ds and an nd d mana’eesh man na’ a’ee ’ee eesh esh h (crisp (ccrrisp isp Lebanese is Lebane Le baneese ba se flatbread atb tbread reaad re dw ith it h a vva ariety pies, wraps, baked eggs, and riieetty off ttoppings), o pi op pinggs) s), pi ies, ta ttarts, artts, s, ssandwiches, andw an wicch hees, es, s, w raaps ra ps, ba ps ake ked eg ggs gs, aan n nd d salads, which are perfect bites meal orr a ssaala lads, dss, wh w hic ich aar re al aalll pe perf rfecct b rf bi itees fo ffor or an n iideal deeaall iin-between n-be nbetw wee een me m eall o late brunch with llaatee b ru unc nch wi ith th ffriends. r en ri nds ds.

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Ass s or o te ted ed fr ffresh res esh sh be b rrie rr iiees we w re llayered re ayerreed ay d atop ato op creamy crrea crea eamy my custard cu ussta tard d on on perfectly peerrffectlly crisp p ccrris isp pastry pasttryy base. pa bas asee.. An An utter utte ut teer delight. ter deeli d ligh igh ght. t.

The They mini burgers, pastries, Th T he place plaacce plac pl ce also a so al so caters caatterrs to to events. eve vent n s. sT heey got h go ot mi m ini ni b urge ur gers ge r , pa p past assttri trriieess, tarts, ttaart rts,, and and savoury savvou ouryy bites. oury bites ites. it ess Off ffeering ff ering riingg snacks, sn naack c s, s, ccoff off ffeees, ff ees es, mocktails, mock mo kta tail ils, s, and and nd free fre ree wifi wifi, The wi Th he DisDiisD isstrict bee m making for students, and with mini ttrric ict seems sseeeem ems to em to b ma aki king iitself t eellf a hu ts hub b fo or stud sst tud uden deen nts t , an nd wi ith hm i i in burgers, are burggeerrss,, ssandwiches, bu andw an dwicche dw h s, s aand nd d ttarts arts ar arts t aavailable vaailab ilaab il ble for for or catering, catterrin ng, g tthey heey aar h re sure make mark well. s rree to su to ma m ak kee ttheir heeiirr m aarrrk k on n the the h home hom me entertaining een ntert tert te rtaaiining niing ng sscene c nee aass well ce we w elll.

With beautifully food, ordable Wiith W h be eau uti tifu ifu fulllly presented full pressente pr en nte ted food fo oo od d, aff ffo ffo rrd daab ble le prices, pri rice ces, s aand nd a cheernd che h errful, was hard mee not ful, yyoung fu oungg aambiance, ou mbia mb iaan ncce, e, iitt wa w as ha arrd d ffor orr m no n ot to o ffall all in al n llove ovve wi with with h this fresh-baked thiss place th pla lacee at at firs rrst st visit. visi vi ssiitt.. So So I went wentt back. we bac ack. k. And And d at at every evveerry ffr res eshshh ba b ke ked meal District, more meall I enjoy me enjjoyy iin n Th The Di The D isttriict ct, I find d myself myyssel sel elff a li llittle itttlee m orre sm ssmitten. mit i te ten..

—salim@timesofoman.com —sal —s alim i @t im @tim tim imes esof sooffom man an.c n com m

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 39 OCTOBER 6, 2016

THE T HE D DISTRICT ISTRICT BAKERY B AKERY Bousher B Bo ous usshe her ((r her (right riig ght ht aafter fteerr D fter ft Dolphin ollph o phin hinn V Village, ililla lage lage ge, Costa) nneexxtt tto next o Co C ost sta)) +968 8845 +9 9688 22422 44222 88 84455 thedistrictbakery.com th hed edissttrriicctb tbakkeerry. y co com Open daily: Op O pen pen en d aaiilyy: 7am 77aam to to 112am 22aam

WATERMELON SALAD, OMR2.8 WAT W A ERM RM MELO LON & FETA LO FE F ETA A SAL AL LAD AD, D OM MR2.

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MARGARITA PIZZA, OMR3.6 MA GAR MAR AR RITA TA PI P ZZ ZZA ZA, O MR3 MR R .6

MIXED M MIX E FRU ED FRUIT UIT T TAR TARTS, T TA TS TS, S, OM OMR1.5 MR R1.

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FRESH BREADS, FROM 300 BAISA OMR1.6 FR FRE R SH S BRE BR R ADS DS, F DS, DS ROM OM 30 00 B A SA AIS A TO TO O MR MR1 M R .6

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 39 OCTOBER 6, 2016

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ONE OF A KIND Located in a quiet corner of Azaiba Mall, there is a shop where

all that’s old is made new again. Far from a simple antique shop, the items

here are not simply restored, but re-imagined, with furniture that doubles as art built anew from reclaimed and repurposed materials.

STORY SWATI DASGUPTA

PHOTOGRAPHY SHABIN E.

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 39 OCTOBER 6, 2016

H

ere distressed jeans become upholstery for a chair. Midcentury shaped, industrial chic lounges are made from goat hide. Marble cutwork cubes make a modern mosaic on a wrought-iron table, while leather covered bar chairs come with riding stirrups. Tables are topped with railway sleeper cabs and up-cycled Almirah and mango wood crates become a set of drawers. Rustic wood abounds.

“We are perhaps the one and only outlet here in Oman that promotes authentic ethnic furniture and furnishings,” said Vivek Thusu, the showroom manager at four-month-old Ethnic Homes.

The shop’s mixture of ethno-modern up-cycled, reclaimed, industrial, and restored furnishings, make a walk through the showroom feel like an exotic, surreal adventure into a treasure trove of well crafted, stunning pieces of home décor.

“Each piece that you see here has its own character, be it the discolouration or the uneven edges of the furniture,”

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 39 OCTOBER 6, 2016

Vivek explained. “Upcycling, in a layman’s language, would be taking something and make something else out of it.

We also do a lot of reclaimed furniture where we buy old and used furniture and take the pieces to make a completely different product.”

People nowadays seem to be gradually gravitating towards old, traditional furniture and reclaimed woods, for designs that speak to their nostalgia and that are also functional, unique, and environmentally sustainable.

From a production standpoint, using reclaimed wood that has been salvaged and sourced from auctions, benefits both the furniture manufacturer and the end customer, thanks to the fact that the materials themselves are more durable and stronger than the cheap composite woods used to make much of the furniture produced today.

As much art as it is functional furniture, the pieces at Ethnic Homes are one-of-a-kind odes to the many ways in which discarded materials can be recycled or upcycled into something beautiful. A table constructed entirely

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out of discarded Indian railways tracks looks as though it should be in a modern art museum. Plush sofas made using Ambassador cars, the former pride of the Indian roads, look Dali-esque. A bar counter made out of a scraped army vehicle looks like a post-industrial statement. My favourite “work” was an ancient door that had been re-framed like a museum-piece and transformed into an elegant dining table.

The men behind Ethnic Homes have brilliantly found a way to do business in a sustainable, eco-friendly way, creating something hip and modern out of traditional pieces and otherwise forgotten relics of the industrial age.

“A distressed and antique piece of furniture can add a unique charm to any room and can turn furniture into heirloom-quality treasures,” Vivek said.

He’s right. The resulting furniture would make an artful addition to contemporary and traditional homes alike.

They are timeless because they are real, crafted from history into little feasts for the eyes.

—swati@timesofoman.com

ETHNIC HOMES Shop No. 101, First Floor, Azaiba Mall, Al Azaiba, Muscat +968 2461 5505 info@ethnichomes.com

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PUTTING OMAN ON THE PITCH STORY GAUTAM BHARGAV VISWANATHAN PHOTOGRAPHY SHABIN E.

“Come on guys, focus!” roars Chuck Martini. The under-10s are lining up at the Royal Flight School, which is bathed in a yellow hue, the windows glinting in the last light of the setting sun.

A young boy, tall, rangy, dribbles the ball past a couple of cones on the perfectly manicured pitch before attempting to plant a shot beyond Martini.

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he former Leicester City goalkeeper may be forty-four, but he doesn’t seem to have lost any of his cat-like reflexes. He flings his burly body to palm away the boy’s determined drive.

“Still can’t beat me, can you?” he shouts, his face cracking into a grin. The boy turns around with a rueful smile, the sun’s rays lighting his hair a blinding platinum.

Chuck Martini’s professional career spanned 20 years across clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur, AFC Wimbledon, and of course, Leicester City. The highlight of his time as a player saw him represent Morocco at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, where grassroots football was just beginning to bear fruit.

Now he’s sowing the seeds for a new crop

of next-gen stars in the Sultanate of Oman, at the Muscat Football Academy, established in 2013, which has since grown from 40 players to more than 400.

“I love this country, and I want to see football develop here. It’s been a lot of hard work, we have a great coaching team and I owe a lot to my backroom staff because they’re the ones doing all the hard work. It’s been a long three years,” he explains, eyes never leaving the field where his players train. “The most important approval is from the parents, entrusting me with their children and entrusting our methods and our techniques to improve their children.”

The pitch at the Royal Flight School is split into three sections. While Chuck works on the players’ finishing, his other coaches are

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honing the kids’ passing and defensive techniques. The sun blazes with fierce intensity, but that does little to deter the players on the field, some of whom are as young as three.

The Muscat Football Academy currently operates out of three schools in Muscat – the American British Academy, The Sultan’s School, and the Royal Flight School, but Chuck has long-standing plans for a project that would leave long-term impact on football in the Sultanate.

“We have a dome project in place in Mawaleh,” he explains. “It will feature an indoor 11-a-side football pitch as well as outdoor training pitches. That will be our main base, and I am hoping by 2017 to have opened my first base in Sohar.”

He is looking to establish a training quadrangle in the Sultanate, with academies planned in Muscat, Sohar, Nizwa, and Salalah.

“Our academy is not just about development, not just about the elite,” he says.

“There are a lot of children who want to come here and play football to have fun.

The most important thing is that while they are working hard and doing their exercise that they enjoy doing it.”

Martini may be scouting local talent, but he’s got his finger very firmly on the international pulse of football. He took the Muscat Football Academy to the world-famous Mundialto Tournament in Portugal for the first time earlier this year, where they competed along with some of football’s best and brightest.

Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Juventus, Schalke 04 Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Ajax, and Mexican outfit Club America were just a handful of clubs that featured. And the Muscat Football Academy progressed all the way to the quarterfinals of the silver division at the tournament.

“I’ve been lucky that we were invited to the Mundialto this year, rubbing shoulders with some of the best academies in the world. That has put our

IT’S NOT ABOUT RESULTS AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. IT’S ABOUT TEACHING MY PLAYERS THE RIGHT WAY TO PLAY.

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 39 OCTOBER 6, 2016

academy in a different light all together,” Martini explains. “Tournaments like the Mundialto will always be crucial to a child’s sporting development,” he says, signalling for the players to take a break and grab a drink.

“On the pitch, they’re taught professionalism, they see how kids in other academies learn about moving, controlling, passing the ball, there’s so much for the kids to learn and see.” And the education doesn’t end with the game.

“I recall Borussia Dortmund travelling with us to a game. In the beginning, it was just bunch of kids sitting at the back listening to music in their earphones and then, 15-minutes before we arrived at the stadium, not the coach, but the actual captain said, ‘everybody switch off and get your game head on now’. I was shocked to see such impeccable manners from the rest of

the team, because they’re only 10 years old and they play for one of the giants of world football, but they are so humble when you speak to them,” he recalled. “To see that was very educational and it’s made my players more aware. It made them realise how hard they have to work and how disciplined they have to be to be a professional footballer.”

Drink-time over, Martini gestures for his players to resume training. His rolling, booming voice does get loud, but that’s as far as it goes. No shouting is necessary.

Bright orange rays now pierce the low cloud cover, Martini squints into the light. “Unfortunately, people are so result orientated that parents feel their child should win at all costs,” he continues, stopping only to blow his whistle to bring into line two players who’ve begun an animated conversation — I think it was about

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 39 OCTOBER 6, 2016

cartoons — on the sidelines. “It’s not about results at such a young age. I’ve always wanted to see their faces when they win, but it’s about teaching my players the right way to play.”

Chuck is working hard to ensure that the kids have a future, even if it is off the pitch, with talks currently underway to create a football scholarship programme in partnership with the University of Connecticut in the United States.

Here in Oman, he’s hoping to strike a deal with Omantel, current sponsors of the Oman Premier League, to create an academies league to serve as a platform to discover and nurture talent.

“When you are put in front of some of the elites, it is a tough challenge, and not everyone is capable of it,” he says, waving the kids over, wrapping up his practice.

“But my promise to all of my players is that if I see you have what it takes to play professional football, I will try to fulfil your potential.”

—gautam@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT FOOTBALL ACADEMY +968 2463 1438 info@muscatfootballacademy.com muscatfootballacademy.com SEASON START: September 27 FULL SEASON (9 MONTHS) FEES: • OMR740 for kids aged seven and above (full season fee, nine months) • OMR625 for kids aged six and under (full season fee, nine months) NINE-WEEK COURSE FEES: • OMR220 for kids aged seven and above (Age groups: under-5, under-7, under-8, under-11, under-14, under-16, under-19) AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS: (only open for students of the school) AGS, American British Academy, Choueifat School

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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 39 OCTOBER 6, 2016

PDO Inter-Directorate Badminton Tournament 2016 was held by Ras Al Hamra Club (PDO) for the ямБrst time. The employees were invited to participate under their directorate as a team of 6 players.

IN FOCUS DO YOU WANT TO BE IN FOCUS? SHARE YOUR PICTURES WITH US ON FACEBOOK.COM/HIWEEKLY

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 39 OCTOBER 6, 2016

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Team Coorg and Friends of Naqvi Group organised the celebrations of National Sports Day of India in Muscat at the Oman Football Association ground in Al Qurum. Team Coorg lifted the 2016 Dhyan Chand Day Cup.

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Oman Premier T20 Cricket League prize distribution was held at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground. The Assarain team was crowned winner of the 2015-16 edition. The winners’ cup was presented by Syed Anwar Ahsan, a board member of Oman Cricket.

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Chalumbeezz Cricket Team unveiled their jersey, sponsored by Shifa Al Jazeera Group, for the upcoming season. Aslam Backer, global personal general manager of Shifa Al Jazeera, was the chief guest.

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 39 OCTOBER 6, 2016

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SUDOKU HOW TO PLAY Fill empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column, and area.

Level | Very Easy

Level | Easy

1

2

7

4

6

2

3

4

1

5

1

1

1

1

6

3

3

4

9

1

3

6

1

6

3

3

2

4

7

7 7

5

6

4

3

9 2

6

5 7

Level | Difficult

7 7

9

6

3 4

6

8

9

7 9 8

4

6

6 7

2

7

6 5

9

4

9

3

5 1

1

4

3

5 4

9

5 1

8

5

2 3

9

2

1

6

7

5

6

9

2

3

4

7

5

5

Level | Moderate

3

2 1

3

1 8

6 4

7

9

8

5

8

9

6 8

7 4

4

1

3

1

7

4

5

8 3

8

5

VISIT US AT FACEBOOK.COM/HIWEEKLY FOR THE SOLUTIONS TO THIS WEEK’S PUZZLE