Matches against Sri Lanka are a chance to restore the image of Maldivian football

Maldives head coach Mohamed Shiyaz (Mohan) has described the upcoming matches against Sri Lanka as a critical opportunity to restore the public image of Maldivian football, which he says has declined in recent years.

The national team is scheduled to travel to Sri Lanka tomorrow to participate in the South Asian Super Cup, where they will play two matches at the Racecourse Stadium in Colombo, the first on Saturday and the second on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference following the team’s final training session in Malé, Mohan emphasized the symbolic importance of the games.

“We have to prove something to the public. That’s the most important thing in these two games,” he said.

Mohan, a veteran coach with stints at clubs like New Radiant, Valencia, and Maziya, was candid about the challenges facing the national team. He pointed out that the lack of domestic league and tournament play over the past two years has contributed to the decline in performance.

“It’s all coming from not playing the league and not playing local tournaments,” he explained. “In the last three or four years, our football has deteriorated a little. Meanwhile, football in other countries in the region has improved. That’s a big change from where we were before.”

Despite these setbacks, Mohan expressed cautious optimism based on the team’s short but focused training camp.

“In the last six days, the players have shown great commitment. Tactically, they’ve done a very good job,” he said. “Even if they are not at peak fitness, they will give their best on the field.”

He reiterated that the national team bears the responsibility to uplift the spirit and image of Maldivian football, both on and off the pitch.

“We have to do well in these two matches and try to improve our image in public,” he stressed.

The two matches in Sri Lanka will serve not only as preparation for upcoming regional competitions but also as a litmus test for the current state of the national squad, and its ability to regain public confidence.