Ali Al Habsi hopes to play at Olympics with Oman

The Wigan goalkeeper hopes to be involved at London 2012 if his country wins play-off with Senegal tonight.

Ali Al Habsi wants to play at the London Olympics if Oman qualify.

Ali Al Habsi, the Wigan Athletic goalkeeper, has confirmed he intends to play in this summer's Olympics in London should Oman emerge victorious from tonight's play-off against Senegal.

Al Habsi has not been involved in the qualification process so far but Latics boss Roberto Martinez gave Al Habsi permission to join up with his fellow countrymen immediately after Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Fulham for the game in Coventry.

For now, his presence is purely motivational.

However, should Oman make it through and join the UAE, who have already qualified, Al Habsi wants to be involved in the first major tournament his country would ever have reached.

"I would love to be part of the Olympics," he said. "I have played many games in the Premier League but this is something different. It would be the first time in our history we had ever qualified for a tournament such as this.

"That is why I want to be with the Olympic team this week and be behind the players, so every time they look, they will see me. It is going to be far harder than any game I have played. It is a dream and everyone involved has to give everything."

Victory will not be easy.

After all, unlike Oman, Senegal have a history of reaching major competitions and, in Wigan teammate Mohamed Diame, Al Habsi knows there will be at least one colleague at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry not rooting for the Asian nation.

Al Habsi hopes success will help continue the development of football in the Middle East.

"As a region, we are late starters," said the 30 year old.

"But small things are making a difference for everybody. "Sheikh Mansour is doing amazing things at Manchester City, Qatar has the World Cup, which is amazing. We had the Under-20s World Cup in UAE and Qatar.

"Now all the young players watch me a lot in the Premier League. They have the same dream."

Too often, progress has been hampered by an in-built desire for instant results.

Oman, for instance, have gone through a staggering 27 international managers in the last 30 years. Latest to try his luck is former Rangers boss Paul le Guen, who has impressed Al Habsi.

"None of the Arabic countries give the coaches a chance to build," he said. "Results are demanded immediately.

"You can't work like that in football. You have to give a coach chance to get to know the mentality of the players.

"That is what Le Guen is doing. He is trying to mix talented young players and mix them with experienced ones.

"Now we are one game from reaching the Olympics, which would be the biggest footballing achievement my country has ever had."

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