FAM must axe Herbert

Feb 15, 2016 - 02:50:43 |
Maldives national team coach Ricki Herbert

Despite being a coach with World Cup experience, Ricki Herbert of New Zealand has damaged Maldives football in his short period as the head coach. Yes, he came with a huge reputation, being the first ever coach appointed by Football Association of Maldives (FAM) with top level experience but the reputation hit rock bottom after failing to win three consecutive semi-finals in less than three months.

His first task of winning a World Cup Qualifying game against Bhutan, a team even a mid-table Dhivehi League can beat, came with shocking later stage display. Nevertheless, the brilliance of Ali Ashfaq was to thank for the narrow win.

Taking part in a tournament with better teams may well be considered a step for experience but going to a regional tournament with the aim of gaining experience will not be sold easily to the general public. Herbert is a fool to think Maldivians can be bought with the idea of repeated phrase of “aim is to gain experience”. Maldives has gained enough experience in the region until 1991 and since then Maldives always aim for title.

Bangbandhu Gold Cup is a great opportunity to prepare the youth team for SA games and that was what Herbert claimed, but in contrast to his claim he mostly used senior players. And when the real thing came, took two young goal keepers and of one has a very limited game time in last year’s local season.

Before every game, Herbert’s claim is the result is not what matters but the experience the players gain. After the semifinal defeat against Nepal, it is evident that Herbert is the one requiring experience. With barely five minutes to play and with a 3-2 lead, Herbert brought in an attacking player and continued the attacking play. In such a situation, a coach with even limited knowledge about football will try to delay the game and defend the lead.

Losing the semifinal against Nepal, who played with 10 players for more than 50 minutes, is not just a shock result but a disgrace to all the Maldivians. And the top officials of FAM and Herbert has to take full responsibility.

Since Herbert has done too much damage to Maldivian football it is time for FAM to sack him.

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footballmad on Feb 15
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Have you not learnt from the past experience? For the last couple of years, people have been complaining that FAM have been changing the head coach too often. Of course, there are problems. FAM should discuss the lack of results in a serious meeting with Herbert and ask him to explain thereasons for not getting rsults. Then, after listening to him address the issues and give him an ultimatum to start getting results. If no results are achieved at the end of a reasonable time, then it's be sensible to look for a new Head Coach. I think that's a much more sensible measured approach. We can't go around asking people to resign or be sacked every time things go wrong. We have been doing that for years in this country and we haven't achieved much that way. If we are to get a new coach in the future, it appears there's much support for a local Maldivian coach. Nepal has done well that way. We can save a lot of money that way, and use the saved money to strengthen our long-term plans and invest more money in improving the football infrastructure and training facilities.
Saleem on Feb 15
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There is no maldivian Coach with the Knowledge of the Coach Herbert.
Imma on Feb 19
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I agree with your sentiments, footballmad. We need more people like you directly involved in our football. Unfortunately, I don't think any of our politicians posing as football people have the intellectual capacity or patience to come up with long term plans. They always want instant results, or perhaps a colourful ceremony to boast about their so-called grand plans to take our football into space. Nepal have surprised me with their forethought and long term planning. For a long time, their FA were also led by corrupt individuals who were pocketing funds instead of investing them in football development. But they managed to get hold of a few people from Britain who really busted their brains and came up with a long term solution on very limited resources, and they appear to be reaping the rewards for their patience. I hope we give Ricki Herbert more time as well. He has made a few mistakes, yes, but I do expect him to seeing as these are his first few months in a very volatile footballing environment surrounded by people whose mentalities are still stuck in the 80s. Herbert, or even anyone else will require a lot of time to turn around the fallacies within our footballing structure, because there are a lot of things that need to be changed in order to make us a formidable footballing nation. And change does not happen overnight. We can either keep sacking coaches, or stick with them and help them. When Popov was appointed, we were all delighted, but our impatience drove him away. And when Herbert was appointed, we were equally delighted again, but unfortunately most people still haven't learned their lessons and are calling for his head. I feel that as fans, we need a little more calmness and maturity.
Ali on Feb 15
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The writer seriously believes that sacking the coach every time will resolve Maldives football woes. It's more deep and structural. At least this coach stood up to the prima donnas of our football. That's a good start.
Ibra on Feb 15
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He has done nothing good.. Sacking him is the only solution.
Thakuru on Feb 15
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So why was popov sacked or asked to leave..why was he not given time?..popov had the support of everyone except saweed and ali umar cause popov refused to be a puppet of these two. He was building a team for the future with experience and had he been the coach these tournament results would have been different. Viber group was to be blamed. I fully support the writer..sack this fool..
Proper on Feb 15
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It takes more than just three months to get a coach's tactics in place. More than three months to get a good grip and improve the fitness and stamina of a team. Yet the writer fails to comprehend that this coach had to do three major tournaments in less than three months. I believe the stupidity speaks for itself here.
Herbit on Feb 16
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while we were leading 3-2 in the extra time with 4 mins to play and against 10 players. anybody noticed the change Herbet brought? he brought an attacking player (Banbuch). He could have increased the number of defenders and tried to slow down the game that what's top class coaches do in games that require a result. but this fool kept 3 defenders and Sentey ( an attacking player) failed to clear the cross that lead to Nepal equaliser. I am sure not even a local coach would make such a stupid decision.
daniel on Feb 21
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ricki is always full of excuses,
dragan on Apr 14
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he is full of excuses and coach who live with memory past,.no skill,
Daniel-nz on May 18
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watch this three games coming with India,Yemen,thee games,will be a minimum loss per game 3-0 and another excuse's of Ricky,
Asley on May 23
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This is not the problem related to the coach. The management of FAM should take the responsibility for this. Also the government of Maldives.
umar on Jun 09
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it's not the coach, its FAM and Sports Ministry. When there isn't a proper youth development plan, what do you expect, doesn't really matter who the coach is , team won't perform. You think few years you can change a team without basic discipline.

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