Now is the Time to Prove we are there for Maldivian Football – Suzain

Maldives National Football team’s head coach Ali Suzain has said that the time has come “for the players to prove that we are there to do anything for Maldivian football and its development”.

In a press conference ahead of the first of two friendly games against Bangladesh, Ali Suzain said the Maldivian players are more motivated than Bangladeshis to win the game.

Thanking the Bangladesh Football Federation for arranging the upcoming friendlies, Suzain said the players have trained extensively for the games despite lacking international game time. Given that the majority of the national team squad comprises of players from Maziya SR, Suzain stated his confidence in the players’ match readiness since the club had recently competed in the AFC Challenge Cup and gained some match time, and that the rest of the squad have been training with him since September.

“We are motivated because for the last three or four years, we have been doing good with mostly the same squad, against Bangladesh and other South Asian nations”. The coach revealed the absence of one of the key players, “One player is missing and he is one of the best in Maldives. Aisam, he will not play, but all the others are here”.

The coach backs up his belief in the players, citing improvement in statistics from recent games against the home side: “Comparing the play, ball possession and everything, was very high in the four or five matches against Bangladesh.. We have lost the last match – I don’t deny that – but we have been playing good football since the 2021 SAFF Championship (match) against Bangladesh”.

‘No Regrets’ Missing Out on WC Qualifying

Answering a question on whether he regrets losing the last match between the two; the World Cup Qualifying game, Suzain said it is sad that Maldives lost the game, but he does not regret the conditions under which Maldives were eliminated, “I am sad that we couldn’t win here, the last match. But I don’t regret this because.. going to Australia and places for this qualifying.. The present situation of our FA.. I am afraid to say that, we might not have (been able) to travel even for these matches, because of this crisis”.

The captain of the Maldives national team, Samooh Ali had also spoken at the press conference, and said that every player in the squad is determined to win this game, admitting that there will be obstacles in getting back to winning ways, “It has been a long while since the Maldives have last played a match. It is every player’s aim to take a win from this match. Like the coach said, most of the players (in the national team) had been playing in island-level tournaments… And (i understand that) there will be difficulties, but we’re determined to overcome all the difficulties and win this match, by the will of God”.

A Swaying Rivalry

Responding to whether he feels Maldives is at a disadvantage playing away from home, “They (Bangladesh) will evidently be strong in this ground and.. This ground is familiar for us also, because majority of players are from Maziya and they have played here.. And the pitch quality here is good. So it will be an advantage for us, especially our attacking players”, adding that “I hope, with my players, as you know, Maldives has very fast, talented striking players. So with these players, we still can do something”.

Reflecting back on the rivalry between the two nations over the years, Suzain admitted that “Bangladeshi football has been improving; When we (Maldivians) started playing football Bangladesh was happily scoring eight, nine goals against our national team”. He added his insight on the changing dynamic of the rivalry, “That was long ago, but after that we recovered and we were winning almost every game against Bangladesh. And recently, in the last three years it has started to change. The change i think (is because) Bangladesh has a good coach and with him Bangladesh has improved”.

The first game against Bangladesh will kick off today at 17:00 in the evening. The second match will be played on Saturday, November 16th.