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Report
Time for post-mortem
Date: 05 December 2006
By: Mohamed Niyaz
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 Frustration?: Stoikov during India match |
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That’s it. The moment it crossed the line, it was all over. It was like a cold scalpel piercing through your heart. It was brutal; pain was instantaneous – for we knew had we seen off an aggressive India for another minute or so we were still in the race for a thrilling final encounter against Hong Kong.
The collective hands that went up in air, in disbelief and disappointment, told the whole story. Much to the discomfiture of our football-loving people it was the same old story; the same ugly head reared, the same flaws and the same short-comings lay exposed.
It is all over now; you have got to piece together the shattered dream, and look for where it went wrong. Under Bulgaria’s Stoikov our national team is third time unlucky.
They board the plane full of confidence, surrounded by an aura of promise and expectations, but when it matters most withers down right in front of our eyes. When it calls for perseverance and fighting spirit we surrender meekly. In the face of adversity we disarm ourselves without any show of resilience, cave in to pressure without any snarl of defiance.
It was going good in the first half, there was a great tempo to the match, Asfaag was a commanding threat in the Indian half, Oppo was running tireless to plug the holes. Overall, the guys are going great guns till the man in the dugout tinkers with strategy and tactics.
His untimely gamble did cost us dear. Weren’t we playing a praise-worthy stuff in the first half but after dressing room talk we were chasing shadows, second half was a damp squib. No holding midfielders to break up Indian attack, after the surprise removal of Arif, it was a big task for the defenders to tend every call. Indians were given too much of space and it was on of their pile drivers that Imran misjudged and took from the net.
Bereft of ideas and creativity in the midfield, the lack of inventiveness upfront and defense line in disarray it was not surprising the dam break at the most vital moment. A lapse of concentration was enough. The damage was done. That it comes at the dying minutes only rattled an emotionally-wrought nation.
The question is why we play the way we did; why we fail at crucial matches; why looks like individual running on crutches? Why? Where is the team work, that fighting spirit? What is a coach for? Anybody can ask a team of eleven to run after a ball! Is that football?
The bigger question is he still able to instill that killer self-belief? Has he the freshness of mind and respect to ingrain that killer punch in the mind of our young brigade. For record, remember, once you run out of ideas and imagination, you can hardly motivate a group of young lads or impart a serious knowledge as integral as self-belief to a sport as physical as football. Players can only reflect what you are capable of.
Get up now! It’s time FAM woke up from the deep slumber and did a reality check; it is time we did a post-mortem. Just don’t blame players and the conditions under which we had to play, or fixtures crammed too close like last time.
Enough! We have gone through enough tall claims and absurd flights of fantasies. It’s time we acted before our football’s credibility crumbles under the weight of foxy assertions or flimsy innuendos.
Let FAM and all the other concerned parties all sit together and dissect all the issues plaguing our football with the cold scalpel of reason. The cold statistics that the man was able to conjure up decent scores against giants like Iran is no reason why we have to persist with a coach when he’s is no longer able reverse the fortune.
No doubt, he’s an excellent coach, he deserve recognition. But isn’t it time we look for somebody else.
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User Comments |
First of all, replace the Stoikov with a good coach... Then, select international and local experts/advisers, those who can direct FAM what to do best...Coz, I think, FAM needs the advise of experts and analysts... - Cafu
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i think the coach is not the only person to blame , we have to find out the solution for it soon and i suggest to bring another coach asap. the fam is not organising , they must arrnge some gud matches to the team then only they can get experience., - aboo
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y r u blaming the coach. what about the responciblites of FAM to provide International matches. just doing few weaks treaning is a joke accept the reality - Mohamed
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FAM did you hear whats we requesting? I don't think so. FAM cud yao please be more organise. Our players need match experience more. atleast two three international match per year. FIND a GOOD coach who has modern stretegy of coaching ang game planning. Find European coach or brazilian, or any where in the world, but he (the coach) should has modern strategy of coahing ang Training. - ishu
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Actually FAM is to be blamed. Because our team didnt get much friendly matches to play. They arranged seasons in such a way that our players dont get any rest. Management of FAM also should be change, by welcoming peoples like Mattey and Zariandhu.They should also organaise leagues in much organised way. FAM should be strict about zone 1-8 football tournoment by making rules in such a way that more new players could form. They should also wide YDP. There are many skillfull players in atolls who are not able to show their talant due to lack of opportunities. So FAM should give chance to those players
AT LAST I WILL SAY FAM SHOULD BECOME MUCH ORGANISE AND THEY SHOULD FIX MORE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY MATCHES FOR OUR J & S NATIONAL TEAMS - benzo
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A good article.I agree with you guyz.stoikove needs to be replaced now.He is no good to our national team - jose
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Try n get a ENGLISH coach! England is where football began. Maybe our GOLD medals would start with an English Coach. - aLi
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hey guys
its true that we all are disappointed. but we just think that what our FAM is doing. Coach is not only one to take blame, FAM should be responsible. Coach has done good things for Maldives football.
Did anyone think that why we are not confident while we are palying?
cant we controll the ball and pass?
thats only coz of lack of international matches.
its not good to go only to Oman and play practice matches a week before the tournament.
we should play some big matches.
not against second divison team of Oman.
What happen to freindly matches of this year?
if things happen like that, no GoLd for our nation.
its very disapointing to say that
but management of our football governing body must change.
they should welcome to people like Mahtey, Zariyandh and Saya.
lot of people are there???
and finally I will say FAM should allow more forign players to play. - Shifan
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