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Suzeyn to takeover U23

Date: 13 January 2007 | Uploaded: 03:15 PM

Suzeynbriefing his coaching team at the press conference

Male, MALDIVES - Football Association of Maldives had appointed Victory Sports Club’s assistant coach, Ali Suzeyn as the head coach of the Maldives under 23 National team who are going to face Indonesia in the pre preliminary qualifying to the Olympic Games. 

In a press conference held at FAM today, Vice chairman Abdhul Hameed Abdhul Gafoor said that Suzeyn was appointed to the post after an executive committee meeting. Seven coaches were nominated by the clubs to the executive committee. Victory’s assistant coach Ali Suzeyn, Victory’s Coach Mauroof Ahmed, Two assistant coaches of senior national team Moosa Manik, Ihsan Abdhul Ghanee, Valencia’s assistant coach Abdhulla Waheed, Ahmed Saleem and Mohamed Shiyaz were the nominations to the executive committee by the clubs. 

Three coaches were short listed after the voting of executive committee. Mauroof Ahmed was the first among the three short listed, but he refused to take up the post. Second highest was Ali Suzeyn and now he has agreed for that. 

Suzeyn said that he agreed for the post when FAM gave me the authority to select him coaching staff and management of the team.  

Suzeyn said that one of the reasons that he is going to take up the team is that he has the confidence that he can do this job.  

“I don’t won’t to be proud for being first coach who is going to handle U23 team for such a tournament, but I have full confidence that I can do this” suzeyn said 

Suzeyn’s coaching staffs are Mohamed Shiyaz and Mohamed Haleem as the assistant coaches and FAM’s treasurer Ismail Zariyandh as the goal keeper trainer. 

“Shiyaz is one of the coaches who are working with the youth teams and he will have good experience in handling the youth teams. The reason for appointing Mohamed Haleem is that he also has good experience and he had worked with some of the teams. He had also passed the “A” license coach.” Suzeyn said 

Speaking at the press conference Suzeyn said that he noted that there were some problems with the goal keeping in the Asian games. The number one keeper also faced problems in the Asian games. So I appointed Zariyandhu, he is also one of the best goal keeper trainer.  

Suzeyn announced his management team in the press conference. The manager of the team is former Maldives Senior National team captain Shah Ismail, Ahmed Shakeeb as the medical officer and bodey as the kit manager. 

One of the assistant coaches of the team, Shiyaz said that there will be a big change to the team. Only players born in 1985 can play in the qualifying. So we will be including some 17 or 18 years players will be included in the squad.  

Mohamed Haleem explained about the plan of the team.  

“We will start practices on the 14th January. Practices will be held twice a day except the first Friday of the practice commences. The team will be announced on 17th Wednesday. We are trying to play two friendly matches at home. One match had been fixed now and the match will be held on 18th Thursday against Valencia. We are trying to fix a match with the Nigerian team who is going to come to Maldives. That match is scheduled to play on 24th Wednesday. Team will be departing to Malaysia for camping on 27th Saturday. We are trying to fix two friendly matches in Malaysia also. But still it’s not confirmed. We had scheduled to play the first away friendly on 30th Tuesday and second match on 2nd February, Friday. Team will leave to Indonesia on 4th February.” 

He also said that the plan for the home match is still not ready and we will work on that after the first match.  

Team will depart from Indonesia to Male’ on 9th February.

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