SAFF soccer final today
Sunday, 13 December 2009
The reigning champions Maldives face challenge from the rejuvenated India in the 'Battle Royale' final of the Bangabandhu SAFF Championship at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today (Saturday) at 7:00 pm, reports BSS.
Both teams has even record as they earlier met each other twice while tomorrow will be their third encounter in the SAFF final. In their first engagement India have beaten Maldives 5-1 in 1997 while Maldives beat the regional powerhouse 1-0 last year to clinch their maiden title in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Both sides have shown tremendous improvement on their way to the final with the defending champions Maldives scoring 11 goals in four matches. India a proved to be a different side in the semifinal as they registered a well deserved 1-0 victory over the hosts Bangladesh.
Maldives will be looking forward to retain the title under the able leadership of their skipper Ali Ashfaq and his striking partner Ahmed Thoriq. Nasser Mukhtar who scored the 87th minute winner in the final last year, again might be the thorn for the rival defense. Maldives Ibrahim Fazeel's is indisposed and have a little chance of playing in the final eleven though team's physio said that the player is recovering fast.
On the other hand India will bank on their custodian Arindam Bhattacharya whose reliability under the bar was well tested. Skipper Sushil Kumar will welcome back Balwant Singh as his attacking partner.
Maldives coach Istvan Urbanyi is confident that the final against India will be a tough test for the defending champions.
'If we can show the performance we have shown so far we are confident that we could repeat it, we came here to be in the final and we did it, our strikers are in good form and that's a big thing, final is a big event and we are not focussing upon the past rather we are looking forward to win the title' said the Hungarian.
'It's not going to be the same match as the one played in the group stage. The final is going to be tough game for us but we are ready' said Urbanyi. "
Urbanyi was not bothered about the unavailability of Ibrahim Fazeel.
'Fazeel is an important player in our attack. He has scored two goals in the semifinal. So it has been a huge blow for us. But we have 20 players in the squad and we could utilize another player' concluded Urbanyi.
India's coach Sukh- winder Singh believed the past results between Maldives and India will not help any side in the final.
"In football, the past results do not help. I think it will not be the same when we go out to face Maldives in the finals. When we faced Maldives in the group stage, we had our key players missing from the line up. Now we are in full strength"
Sukhwinder is also happy to be in the final with a team consisting of young players.
'It is nice to be in the finals with the young boys, we are improving a lot. If we maintain that we would be on the winning side."
Sukhwinder praised his players. 'We finished three matches without conceding a goal. So why not mention that. The most important thing is to create chances and to use them'
He also expressed confidence about holding out the Maldives onslaught led by Ashfaq. 'Football is not 100 meter sprint, it is team game and success is the result of the perfect teamwork, I think we can handle the Maldives attack and we definitely have some plans' said Sukhwinder.
Both teams has even record as they earlier met each other twice while tomorrow will be their third encounter in the SAFF final. In their first engagement India have beaten Maldives 5-1 in 1997 while Maldives beat the regional powerhouse 1-0 last year to clinch their maiden title in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Both sides have shown tremendous improvement on their way to the final with the defending champions Maldives scoring 11 goals in four matches. India a proved to be a different side in the semifinal as they registered a well deserved 1-0 victory over the hosts Bangladesh.
Maldives will be looking forward to retain the title under the able leadership of their skipper Ali Ashfaq and his striking partner Ahmed Thoriq. Nasser Mukhtar who scored the 87th minute winner in the final last year, again might be the thorn for the rival defense. Maldives Ibrahim Fazeel's is indisposed and have a little chance of playing in the final eleven though team's physio said that the player is recovering fast.
On the other hand India will bank on their custodian Arindam Bhattacharya whose reliability under the bar was well tested. Skipper Sushil Kumar will welcome back Balwant Singh as his attacking partner.
Maldives coach Istvan Urbanyi is confident that the final against India will be a tough test for the defending champions.
'If we can show the performance we have shown so far we are confident that we could repeat it, we came here to be in the final and we did it, our strikers are in good form and that's a big thing, final is a big event and we are not focussing upon the past rather we are looking forward to win the title' said the Hungarian.
'It's not going to be the same match as the one played in the group stage. The final is going to be tough game for us but we are ready' said Urbanyi. "
Urbanyi was not bothered about the unavailability of Ibrahim Fazeel.
'Fazeel is an important player in our attack. He has scored two goals in the semifinal. So it has been a huge blow for us. But we have 20 players in the squad and we could utilize another player' concluded Urbanyi.
India's coach Sukh- winder Singh believed the past results between Maldives and India will not help any side in the final.
"In football, the past results do not help. I think it will not be the same when we go out to face Maldives in the finals. When we faced Maldives in the group stage, we had our key players missing from the line up. Now we are in full strength"
Sukhwinder is also happy to be in the final with a team consisting of young players.
'It is nice to be in the finals with the young boys, we are improving a lot. If we maintain that we would be on the winning side."
Sukhwinder praised his players. 'We finished three matches without conceding a goal. So why not mention that. The most important thing is to create chances and to use them'
He also expressed confidence about holding out the Maldives onslaught led by Ashfaq. 'Football is not 100 meter sprint, it is team game and success is the result of the perfect teamwork, I think we can handle the Maldives attack and we definitely have some plans' said Sukhwinder.