SAFF Championship 2013: Team Profile – Maldives

Sportskeeda continues the buildup to next month’s SAFF Championship by profiling each of the eight participating nations. Here we have a look at 2008 winners Maldives.

FIFA Ranking: 153

AFC Ranking: 27

History

Maldives, who played their first international match in 1979, have never come close to qualifying for the World Cup or Asian Cup but the island nation has been one of the most consistent teams in the South Asian region. They have won the competition only once but Maldives has been India’s biggest threat in the sub-continent although there is a complete mismatch between the two countries in terms of size, population and resources.

A goalless draw against mighty South Korea in 2004, in a 2006 World Cup qualifier remains one of their most notable results in international football but otherwise Maldives have always been found wanting against quality Asian opposition. However the ‘Red Snappers’ are on the rise and much of it is down to the excellent work done by their football federation. The Football Association of Maldives (FAM) recently saw off competition from their Indian counterparts to win the hosting rights for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup.

By ensuring home advantage, the FAM have given their national team a great chance of winning the tournament and qualifying for the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia. The domestic game has also improved over the years with Maldivian clubs also allowed back into the AFC Cup this time after a gap of five years. League champions New Radiant, who until 2008 were the only South Asian club to have reached the AFC Cup semis, have also progressed to the last eight of the 2013 AFC Cup.

Overall, Maldives football seems to have a very good present and can also look forward to a brighter future.

Best SAFF Championship Performance: Winners (2008)

SAFF Championship History

Maldives didn’t feature in the first two editions in 1993 and 1995, but since 1997 have participated in every edition of the SAFF Championship. They are the only team besides India to have made it past the group stage of every edition that they have featured in. Maldives surprised everybody by reaching the final in their debut campaign in 1997 which was held in Nepal. On their way to the final, Maldives held India in the group stage and defeated holders Sri Lanka in the semi-final. India thumped Maldives 5-1 in the final but the experience of that tournament benefited the Red Snappers in the long run as they reached the semi-finals in 1999, also only to be beaten narrowly by hosts and defending champions India.

Maldives have faced India thrice in the final, losing twice

Four years later, Maldives reached the final in 2003 but were beaten on penalties by hosts Bangladesh. In 2005, Maldives lost in the semi-finals to India but three years later they were given a great chance of winning their first SAFF title as they were the co-hosts along with Sri Lanka. Maldives finished second in their group behind India with all matches being played in their capital Male. It meant that their semi-final would be in Colombo against Sri Lanka but against all odds, Maldives triumphed 1-0. They went into the final with all the momentum as India only struggled to beat Bhutan in the other semi. That proved to be decisive as Maldives defeated a lacklustre Indian outfit 1-0 to lift their maiden SAFF crown.

That 2008 triumph is undoubtedly their best moment in international moment and it was wildly celebrated in the island with the country’s president declaring the day after the final as a public holiday. A year later, in the 2009 edition, Maldives looked well set to become the first nation after India to retain the SAFF crown as they reached the final easily, scoring eleven in four matches. Their opponents in the final was the under-23 team of India and thus for the first time Maldives came into a final against India as the overwhelming favourites especially after beating them 2-0 in a group game. Maldives buckled under pressure as they couldn’t find a way past India goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya and eventually lost on penalties. In 2011, Maldives failed to reach a third straight final as they were beaten 3-1 by hosts and eventual champions India in the semis.

Current Team

Although Maldives will be eager to regain the SAFF Championship trophy, the big target for the current national team will be to win the AFC Challenge Cup next year on home soil and secure the final automatic berth at the 2015 Asian Cup. The FAM reappointed former Hungary international Istvan Urbanyi for a second stint in October 2011. Thus, unlike six other participating teams at SAFF 2013, Maldives have some stability as they have had the same coach for almost two years now. After the narrow misses in 2009 and 2011, Urbanyi will be determined to finally make Maldives the best in South Asia again.

Istvan Urbanyi

In truth, Urbanyi’s second stint has been far from ideal as besides losing in the 2011 SAFF Championship semis to India, they failed to make it past the group stage of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal. The third place finish in the 2012 Nehru Cup where they defeated higher-ranked Syria was encouraging and the team had a camp and played a couple of practice matches in Thailand. Although one of those games ended in a defeat to Thailand U-19, Urbanyi will at least be glad to get some match practice as they have only played two friendlies in this calendar year.

There is plenty of experience in the current senior national set-up as only three out of the 24 players who attended the camp in Thailand are below the age of 23. All the players ply their trade in Maldives, with 13 of those 24 being from newly-crowned league champions and AFC Cup quarter-finalists New Radiant. SAFF 2013 will be the ideal test for Urbanyi to find out where his team stands ahead of next year’s all-important AFC Challenge Cup.

Squad for Thailand camp

Goalkeepers: Imran Mohamed, Mohamed Imran, Ibrahim Ifrah Areef

Defenders: Mohamed Sifan, Rilwan Waheed, Ahmed Abdulla, Mohamed Rasheed, Ahmed Zaadh, Akram Abdul Ghani, Shafiu Ahmed

Midfielders: Ali Umar, Mohamed Umair, Moosa Yamin, Ahmed Rasheed, Ahmed Niyaz, Hussain Niyaz Mohamed, Ismail Easa, Mohamed Arif, Ahmed Imaz

Forwards: Ali Ashfaq, Ali Fasir, Asadhulla Abdulla, Ahmed Nashid, Hassan Adhuham

Key Players

Mohamed Shifan

A member of the 2008 SAFF Championship winning squad, the 30-year-old has been tipped by maldivesoccer.com to play an important role this time also. Shifan, who can operate both as a central defender and defensive midfielder, had a consistent domestic campaign for New Radiant and he will be looking to bring that good form at SAFF 2013.

Mohamed Arif

The 28-year-old playmaker, who can also operate upfront, from Maziya club is one of the most technically-gifted players in the Maldives national team. A veteran of three SAFF Championships including the successful 2008 tournament, Arif’s creativity and experience will be very important for the Red Snappers.

Ali Ashfaq

The New Radiant forward is a superstar of the sub-continent and will be playing in his fifth SAFF Championship this time. Ashfaq comes into the tournament on the back of some red hot club form as he scored 42 goals in all competitions last season including five in one game against Indonesia’s Persibo Bojonegoro in the AFC Cup.

SAFF 2013 Group: Afghanistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan

SAFF 2013 Fixtures

September 2: Sri Lanka; September 4: Bhutan; September 6: Afghanistan

SAFF 2013 Expectations

Maldives are undoubtedly one of the contenders for the title but only after holders India and the highest-ranked South Asian team Afghanistan. They would be expected to easily make the semi-finals, but face a real fight with Afghanistan for top slot in the group which could see them potentially avoid India in the last four. In terms of quality and international experience of current squads, Maldives is second to none and thus will fear no team at SAFF 2013 including India and Afghanistan. Although India have been their bogey team in this competition over the years, Maldives’s biggest threat this time could come from Afghanistan. A place in the semi-finals is the minimum expectation but with AFC Challenge Cup 2014 success in mind, anything less than glory in Nepal next month could raise question marks about Urbanyi’s future.