President's Cup schedule reshuffles to start national team practices on 21st

Yankech instructs national team players

Male', MALDIVES - Football Association of Maldives (FAM) reshuffles President’s Cup schedule to give space for national team preparations. According to the new schedule, the reputed tournament of countries best four clubs will kick off on 15th September and will last till 22nd with only four matches to be played including the final.

Previously the tournament was scheduled to be held from 17th – 26th September, but the new schedule will help national team coach Josef Yankech to follow the practice schedules he proposed.

National team preparation for upcoming World Cup 2010 Qualifying games against Yemen will now start on 21st September. The first practice session will not include players of two finalists of President’s Cup, as the final will be played on 22nd September.

Maldives will play the first leg of World Cup Qualifying away from home in Yemen on October 8th after Yemen rejects FAM’s proposed dates to play the two games on 19th and 26th October. The returning leg will be played in Male’ on 28th October and the winner on aggregate will advance to the round two.

Besides World Cup Qualifying the big tournament ahead of Maldives is this year’s SAFF championship that will be co hosted by Maldives and Sri Lanka in December. Maldives- the two times runner’s up- are looking forward to grab their first gold in a regional tournament.

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