Our focus is semi final - Ricki

Dec 29, 2015 - 12:20:36 |
National team coach Ricki Herbert. (MS photo: Ibrahim Faid)

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Trivandrum, INDIA – Ricki Herbert, Maldives national team coach said that their main focus is to play in the semi final of 2015 SAFF Suzuki Cup. Maldives lost to Afghanistan for the first time in the history by 4-1.

“The goals we conceded were poor. We move onto the semi final, that’s where our focus is. I’m pleased and the boys will be ready for the semis.” Ricki said in the post match press conference yesterday.

“Our boys are part time footballers who are 75% fit and that is going to be tough for us to play against a team like Afghanistan. Who are fully prepared professional footballers that are playing in Europe and I don’t think that this is a bad result for us. Still we have the chance to move forward.”

Herbert confirmed he was saving six players for the semi finals.

“I saved six players for the semi finals and Ashfaq is one of them. It is important others take responsibility. But he’s been terrific, he’s played two 90 minutes. A player like him will be ready for the semi final against India.”

When asked about playing against India, 6 time winners of SAFF Suzuki Cup in the semi final he said the pressure will be always on home side.

“It’s always good to play against home team in the semi finals as the pressure is always on them. I want to win it and I need to win it. Most of the Indian players are professionals players who are playing in Indian Super League.”

Maldives will play against India in the semi final on Thursday at 1500 hours Maldives time. This is the fourth time that Maldives is playing against India in the semi final. Maldives has never won a semi final against India in the last three times.

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Fan on Dec 29
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Apart from defensive problems the match against afgan was bad day for Imran. We conceded three goals because of his mistakes-- mistakes that are so basic you cannot let it happen at this level. From this performance you cannot say he is yet ready match fitness-wise. Actually coach should have allowed our reserve keeper to be tested when he made many changes to actual lineup. Now come semi final match against India and imran’s confidence will be brutally compromised. Whether he recovers from this setback to be seen -- it won't be easy, the next match is a semi and against tough opponents of india. It reminds me of England’s poor world cup campaigns with Rooney and Beckham rushed on to the pitch on separate occasions too soon. In the case of Imran, he missed large part of the season and he is severely sort of match fitness.
redskipper on Dec 30
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imran will come back stronger insha allah!!
identity on Dec 29
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Maldivian players are not part-time professional football player, They are paid salaries by respective clubs and FAM for their involvement in the national team. plus bonus for each game they win. regional players will feel envy if they knew what we are paying for these talentless bunch. so your statement is misleading ,unethical , and disrespectful to Maldivian supporters.
identifier on Dec 29
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Hi Identity, Heard that Maldivian players got more money than others SAFF Nations. Could you please write here how much they earn roughly in US $.
Boyko on Dec 30
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Maldivian media’s easy access to the players, especially young players is a big hinderance to their performance. It puts unnecessary pressure on them. Unwittingly or not, this will disrupt their focus on the tournament. Also coach pandering to the whims of media, and this drivel on ‘ zuvaan kulhun therin’ is overbearing as if we are the first country to have young players in the tournament history. Yes, we have 3 or 4 young player below 23. But that doesn't make us a young team. I don't know what the media is harping on about! Of course a team will evolve as the years pass on : old players go and young ones come. Four young players debuting for for the national team together doesn't mean we have to stop talking the rest of the things.
vaii on Dec 30
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well said boyko... one more thing is that the players should not be allowed to use social network sites during the tournament as they are going to interact with the public where they will have to face both positive and negative feed backs and when the players get negative feed back it is going to affect badly to their performance
Daniel Uefa Coach on Jan 01
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play the game, dont always looking for excuses,in the field,play the game,

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