Time for young players says Popov

Jul 14, 2015 - 10:43:30 |
Maldives national team coach Velizar Popov. (Photo: Haveeru)

Male’, MALDIVES – Maldives national team coach Veliza Popov has said this is the time for young players and Indian Ocean Island Games in Reunion will be the chance for them.

“It is time for the young players to show their skills and Imran, Bakaa and Ashfaq will not play for the national team always and we need to replace them.” Popov said in the press conference held at FAM House yesterday.

Popov also said that even though it is not a FIFA registered tournament he will be playing it as friendly games.

“It is not a FIFA registered tournament and the clubs of Ashfaq and Bakaa is also not released and we will take it as friendly games. But we don’t want to lose the matches by three or four goals."

Popov also said that he tried to give chances to the young players who are playing football abroad including Mirash, who is in Spain and Austria based Maneeu.

“I gave the chance to Mirash and Maneeu unfortunately, Mirash couldn’t join due to some reasons and Maneeu has accepted my offer and will join the team on 19th of this month.”

Popov also reiterated that he can take only 20 players for the tournament and as of that he will cut down the squad to 20 players before leaving to Reunion on 30th July.

The following are the 25 players selected for the IOIG 2015.

Ahmed Abdulla

Mohamed Sifan

Ali Fasir

RIlwan Waheed

Ashad Ali

Akram Abdul Ghani

Mohamed Rasheed

Hamza Mohamed

Shafiu Ahmed

Ibrahim Ifrah Areef

Ismail Easa

Mohamed Umair

Ahmed Nashid

Moosa Yamin

Mohamed Irufaan

Ali Amdhaan

Ahmed Imaaz

Asadhulla Abdulla

Ahmed Athif

Mohamed Imran

Naiz Hassan

Hussain Nihan

Gasim Samaam

Samooh Ali

Maneeu Rauf

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rodondo on Jul 14
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We as fans have been asking for young players since time immemorial. Whoever is the boss of FAM in a given period of time never had the gut to do so. He was not willing to risk his supposed ‘unblemished career’ as FAM president by taking such a decision fearing his record as a master administer of our football will take a beating without the star players. So the result has always been Ashfaq or Bakaa or Oppo in place of emerging players. Meanwhile what these young players have lost is much needed extra experience of playing against tough opponents. India sent their under-23 to SAFF Championship four years ago and incidentally they not only gained more experience, they actually won the tournament. They have a better structure to cater to different age groups. In the coming saff championship those under-23 players would be hard-core pros by now, but we have the same squad, asahfag and bakka and Imran at the fag end of their career. There are no experienced younger players so to speak of. Their emergence in the first place blocked by an unconcerned administration.
Imma on Jul 14
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Maldives will be without their spine; Imran, Arif and Ashfaq. They are probably the three most influential members of the team and their leadership qualities puts them head and shoulders above the rest. So this is going to be a real test of character for the rest, but I feel that it's also a blessing in disguise. It's nice to see new players who have been performing well in the DPL picked, like Naiz and Nihan. Of course, the highlight is understandably Maneeu Rauf, but we must be careful not to put too much pressure on him or the other young lad Miraash just yet. Remember that neither have played matches for their respective senior sides, so far their experiences are at junior level playing only against boys of their age. I feel that it would be good to give such players some experience sporadically at first instead of expecting them to play in the starting XI. Next month, our under-19 team will be playing in the 2016 U-19 Asian Cup qualifiers, so maybe the time is right to play both Maneeu and Miraash in those matches. Let them build some confidence and familiarize with their teammates before plunging their feet into the senior national team. That said, I'm very happy that Popov is taking this opportunity to give more game time to less experienced players. Another coach would have definitely picked Oppo and made Bondaa come out of retirement again...
footballmad on Jul 15
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Great comment, made me laugh out loud on reading the last sentence!
kareem on Jul 17
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you look football in a funny way. Miraash was a good young player at age of 13. parents paying him being in barcelona. you could be there too if your parents had the money. the other fellow never been good enough ever. and popov just realizing how weak and how much there is no structure in our football so he takes this tournament easy to save his ego. i only would bring a national team coach who submits a plan to restructure our football. i am sad about how all of you look so empty about real football and real development and real league, not tournament for kids. responsible youth coaches whose teams play throughout the year. academies are there but there is nothing coming out. shit shit shit. i still hope there will be a day when i want to go and see a local game.

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